Ajit Pawar Likely To Resign As Deputy CM, To Meet Fadnavis Shortly, Say Sources

Rebel Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar is likely to resign as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. According to media reports, he has met senior NCP leaders and is likely to meet Chief Minister Devemdra Fadnavis. The NCP earlier replaced Ajit Pawar as its legislative party leader. News Nation has learnt that the Maharashtra Assembly officials have also confirmed the same. Maharashtra Assembly’s Secretary Rajendra Bhagwat said that the NCP has formally appointed Jayant Patil as its Legislative Party leader.

The development comes a day after strong buzz that the NCP will be sacking Ajit Pawar for anti-party activities. There were reports that the party’s top leadership have decided to throw Ajit Pawar outside party after numerous efforts to convince him and come back to Sharad Pawar failed. There are reports coming in that the Sharad Pawar camp has given a final warning to Ajit Pawar. In case, he doesn’t return to the fold, he will be sacked from the party, sources said. A disciplinary panel has already prepared a list of Pawar’s anti-party activities. In case, he is sacked, Ajit Pawar will not have any legal status in the party. On Tuesday, Chhagan Bhujbal had met Ajit Pawar at his Mumbai residence. However, the meeting didn’t help in resolving the impasse.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will have to prove his majority tomorrow during the Supreme Court-ordered floor test that will be telecast live at around 5 pm. The top court ruled out the secret ballot and said that all MLAs should take oath by 5 pm and the floor test should be conducted immediately after that. The apex court said that the Protem Speaker will conduct floor test. Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal appearing for Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Supreme Court, also mentioned before the top court to restrain the Devendra Fadnavis government from taking important policy decisions. The top court ruled that the senior-most leader of the House should be the Protem Speaker.

So far, the BJP has been conspicuous about the magic figure of majority. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress has been very open about the number of lawmakers backing them. Though there is no final say yet, two senior-most leaders of the Maharashtra Assembly, whose name sare doing rounds are Balasaheb Thorat of Congress and Kalidas Kolambkar of the BJP.