Mumbai: Almost a day after Nationalist Congress Celebration (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) authorities in Maharashtra, together with eight different get together MLAs, confusion stays over the variety of legislators who’re supporting him.
Ajit took oath because the state deputy chief minister Sunday afternoon — a publish he will probably be sharing with the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis.
Whereas he had claimed Sunday that “all [NCP] MLAs had been with him, however because the day progressed a handful of NCP MLAs pledged their help to his uncle and NCP patriarch and nationwide president Sharad Pawar, after the latter introduced that he was not on the identical web page as his nephew.
As many as 5 MLAs publicly tweeted their help for Sharad Pawar — Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Rohit Pawar, Anil Deshmukh, and Prajakt Tanpure.
On Monday, one other MLA, Nilesh Lanke tweeted, “all leaders ought to keep collectively”, however it remained unclear whether or not his help was for Sharad Pawar or Ajit.
“NCP is my household and Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule [Sharad’s daughter], and Ajit Pawar are my leaders and heads of household. I’m a small a part of this household. My stand is that every one leaders ought to keep collectively in present political situation. Nevertheless I hope that the choice will probably be made within the subsequent two days as anticipated by all,” Lanke tweeted.
The NCP has 53 MLAs within the state meeting. Addressing the media Sunday, NCP’s Maharashtra president Jayant Patil mentioned MLAs (who’ve reportedly pledged help to Ajit Pawar) are confused. “Many MLAs didn’t know what they had been signing up for. Some are in contact with Sharad Pawar and I’ve additionally spoken to two-three MLAs,” he mentioned.
“I really feel that solely those that took oath have switched to the opposite facet. Many MLAs are in contact with us,” he added.
Speaking concerning the variety of MLAs backing Ajit, Patil mentioned, “I don’t wish to get into numbers at the moment [Sunday] as a result of many wish to come again. That’s why now we aren’t speaking concerning the numbers. We expect they [the Ajit Pawar-led faction] could have given an affidavit to the governor, claiming they’ve the bulk. The governor ought to have contacted us to know the reality, however nobody contacted us. As a celebration state president, the governor ought to have cross-checked with me whether or not we had been on board, however I used to be not contacted.”
ThePrint additionally reached Jitendra Awhad for touch upon the letter of help to the Shinde authorities submitted by NCP MLAs to the governor, however he mentioned, “We have now but to see it.”
Calls to the governor’s home for remark remained unanswered.
Additionally learn: ‘Folks need Shinde over Fadnavis as CM’ — BJP ally Shiv Sena flexes muscle with front-page advert
Rift in NCP
In the meantime, of the NCP’s 4 Lok Sabha MPs, Supriya Sule of Baramati and Shriniwas Patil of Satara have pledged help to Sharad Pawar. The opposite two are Amol Kolhe and Sunil Tatkare. Tatkare’s daughter, Aditi, was among the many NCP leaders who took oath within the Shinde authorities Sunday.
In Rajya Sabha, other than Sharad Pawar, NCP has Praful Patel who was current at Ajit Pawar’s swearing-in. One other Rajya Sabha MP Fauzia Khan is with Sharad Pawar, whereas Vandana Chavan hasn’t but promised help to both of the Pawars.
The rift between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit resurfaced many occasions over the previous couple of years.
The NCP patriarch had final month appointed his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, together with Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel, because the get together’s working presidents.
The transfer led to hypothesis that Pawar, a former Union minister and chief minister of Maharashtra, had settled the controversy over who out of daughter Supriya and nephew Ajit would take over the reins of the get together after him.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
Additionally learn: ‘Triple engine sarkaar’ in Maharashtra. How Ajit Pawar’s rebel queers pitch for Shinde, MVA
