After Maharashtra Twist, NCP Likely To Get Place In Modi Cabinet: Sources

Breaking the political logjam, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday early morning surprisingly took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Also, NCP’s Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister of the state in a quick ceremony. Soon after the oath-taking ceremony, reports emerged that NCP is likely to get cabinet berth in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government.

According to the sources, as the formation of BJP-NCP government has been accomplished, Sharad Pawar-led party may get two cabinet berth in the Narendra Modi government. Meanwhile, Union Minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale said after the formation of BJP-NCP government in Maharashtra, there was a possibility of NCP joining the NDA and getting two cabinet birth in the Narendra Modi government.

Speaking to India Today, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and party leaders Supriya Sule and Praful Patel were likely to be inducted into the Union Cabinet.

He said, "The experience of Sharad Pawar will come to good use if he joins the government. Praful Patel and Supriya Sule could also be inducted into the cabinet. There is a possibility that NCP may get one or two berths in the Union Cabinet." Welcoming the alliance of BJP and NCP in Maharashtra, Ramdas Athawale took a dig at Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and said his dream of becoming Chief Minister remains a distant dream.

"Shiv Sena could have easily settled for the Deputy Chief Minister post and the government would have formed but because of Uddhav Thakre's ambition to become Chief Minister, the party is now in the lurch," he added.

This comes at a time when deliberations between the Congress, the NCP and Shiv Sena to form a government in Maharashtra reached the final stage on Friday and the three parties inched closer to announce an alliance.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar Stabbed Sena In The Back, Everyone Will Pay For This, Says Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut

The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the state elections last month, could not earlier stake claim to form a government after it could not reach an agreement with its former ally Shiv Sena on its "50:50" demand. The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by the Shiv Sena (56). The NCP won 54 seats and the Congress had won 44 seats.