Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar led a ‘rebellion’ on Sunday, joining the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government as Deputy Chief Minister. But as the CM hailed the formation of a ‘triple engine’ government and Opposition leaders cried foul, others still recalled the Shiv Sena’s vehement rejection of the NCP earlier this year.
“Now we have 1 Chief Minister and 2 Deputy Chief Ministers. The double-engine government has now become triple engine. For the development of Maharashtra, I welcome Ajit Pawar and his leaders. Ajit Pawar’s experience will help strengthen Maharashtra,” the CM said soon after the swearing-in ceremony.
The remarks were a sharp contrast to the stance taken by the Shinde Sena in April, wherein lawmakers had insisted they would rather quit the government than ally with the NCP.
“The NCP is a party which betrays. We will not be with the NCP even in power. If the BJP takes NCP with them, Maharashtra will not like it. We decided to move out (of the earlier undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray) because people didn’t like us going with the Congress and NCP,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat had told reporters on April 19.
He added that Ajit Pawar – previously an ally of the BJP as they sought to form the government in 2019 – would be welcomed.
“Ajit Pawar doesn’t have a free hand there (in the NCP). Therefore, if he leaves the NCP, we will welcome him. If he comes along with a group of NCP (leaders), we will not be in the government,” he had added.
While BJP and Shiv Sena leaders have repeatedly asserted that Pawar has the support of 40 NCP MLAs, this remains to be proven. The NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly and Ajit Pawar needs the support of at least 36 legislators to not attract the provisions of anti-defection law. Meanwhile, NCP leaders including Sharad Pawar have claimed that the ‘rebels’ will face punitive measures.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Updated: 03 Jul 2023, 02:40 AM IST