Do Not Dream About It: Ajit Pawar On Whether Eknath Shinde Will Resign as Maha CM

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar said on Friday that there is no demand for the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, in the wake of the Supreme Court's judgment.

"Do not even dream that the chief minster and deputy chief minister would resign on the basis of morality. There is a huge difference between former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the current lot," Pawar told reporters when asked about Uddhav Thackeray's demand for the resignation of Shinde.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court had said that the then Maharashtra governor, Bagat Singh Koshiyari had erred in concluding that Uddhav Thackeray had lost the majority following a revolt by Shinde. The court also said that the governor had no objective material to call for a floor test.

The court however added that it could have reinstated Uddhav had he refrained from resigning from his post of CM following the rebellion by the Shinde faction.

Ajit Pawar had said before the decision of the court that there was no threat to the BJP-Shiv Sena government as long as it enjoys the majority 154 MLAs on the floor of the House. "Many call this government unconstitutional. But as long as they have the support of 145 MLAs, there is no danger", Ajit Pawar had said.

There were certain rumblings within the NCP itself and it was being largely speculated that Ajit Pawar may take away with him around 30 MLAs and join the BJP coalition. However that storm seems to have cooled off, with Sharad Pawar announcing his resignation as the chief of the party. He however took back his resignation following a request made by his party.