51 NCP MLAs Wanted To Tie Up With BJP During Shinde Rebellion, Says Report

Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel has revealed that 51 out of 54 party legislators had given a letter to Sharad Pawar that NCP should side with BJP to form government in Maharashtra when the MVA government was on the verge of collapse last year during Eknath Shinde's rebel.

However, the NCP leadership failed to take a decision on time, and Eknath Shinde grabbed the opportunity and formed the government with Devendra Fadnavis, according to a report by Times of India.

Patel said the decision to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government was a collective one, indicating that the process of going with the BJP had started in 2022 itself.

Dealing a major blow to his uncle Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar on Sunday took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra while eight MLAs of NCP joined as ministers.

"Joining the Maharashtra government was a collective decision taken by NCP for the development of the state, country and in view of the able leadership of PM Modi. In Nagaland, we have supported NDA. We have supported the Maharashtra government to ensure the development of the state and to provide political stability," Patel said.

He echoed Ajit Pawar saying, "If NCP can align with Shiv Sena then why not with BJP? There are no ideological differences".

Patel refused to respond to questions on Pawar being upset with him and whether he had ditched the NCP chief.

"There is no pressure on us. I am thankful to NCP and Pawar saheb for all I got in the party," the former Union minister added.

Notably, Sharad Pawar on Sunday said he was not upset with anybody in view of the major political development in his party but slammed leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare for abandoning the guidelines of the party president and taking a wrong path.