It Was Not Revolt: Ajit Pawar On Forming Government In Maharashtra With BJP

NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who ditched his uncle and party chief Sharad by joining hands with the BJP and became deputy chief minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government, on Wednesday said that him going with the saffron party was not a revolt.

He said that he continues to be with the NCP and would accept whatever decision his uncle and NCP national president Sharad Pawar takes. "It was not a revolt. I was the leader of NCP. Did NCP remove me? Did you read (about my removal from NCP) somewhere?" Ajit Pawar told reporters.

"I have been telling all that I was in the NCP, I am in NCP and will be in NCP," he said.

After ditching his uncle and party, Ajit Pawar also played Devendra Fadnavis and resigned as deputy chief minister just three days after wearing-in on Saturday. Following his decision, the BJP’s hopes of getting majority were dashed and Devendra Fadnavis had to quit.

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Now the junior Pawar is back with his uncle and likely to get deputy chief minister’s post in the Uddhav Thackeray-led ‘Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi’ alliance government. According to sources, although NCP MLAs sided with Sharad Pawar but many of them also pressured him to take back his nephew.

The Nationalist Congress Party will get deputy chief minister’s post in the Maharashtra government, NCP leader Praful Patel said here on Wednesday night. The Congress will get Assembly Speaker’s post, while the NCP will get deputy Speaker’s post, Patel told reporters after a meeting of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.