Maharashtra Political Crisis: Ajit Pawar Has Support Of 40 NCP MLAs And 6 MLCs

In a huge political upheaval, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday took oath as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and existing Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis at Raj Bhavan.

Ajit Pawar supported by key NCP leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, Hasan Mushrif, Ramraje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Bansode and Anil Bhaidas Patil took oath today.

The NCP in total has 54 MLAs. It is still not known whether there has been a formal split in the NCP or if a big chunk of the party is joining the Government.

According to reports, Ajit Pawar has the support of 43 out of the 53 NCP MLAs and 6 MLCs.

"Ajit Pawar decided to support our alliance. Now our strength has increased from 170 to 210. 40 MLAs of (NCP) are coming, said Maharashtra minister Uday Samant.

Majority of NCP MLA's support me, says Ajit Pawar

Speaking to reporters, newly appointed Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, said "Today, we have decided to support the Maharashtra government and took oath as ministers. There will be a discussion on the portfolios later. Considering all aspects at the national level, we thought that we should support development."

"We took a decision to come with the Shinde-Fadanvis govt with almost all MLAs of NCP. We took oath and a few other ministers will be added in the next expansion," said Pawar.

No official support from NCP

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase on Sunday said the oath taken by nine NCP MLAs as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government does not have official support of the party.

In a video message, Tapase said NCP's party workers, district president, taluka president, youth and women are with party's national leader Sharad Pawar.

"The oath-taking ceremony in Maharashtra was part of Operation Lotus and it has no official support of NCP. Those who took oath, it is their personal decision and not that of the NCP," he said.

The political development comes a year after a revolt led by Shinde against the Shiv Sena (then undivided) led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. On June 30, 2022, Shinde was sworn in as the CM with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the deputy CM.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly are due next year.