NCP’s Sharad Pawar Says Do Not Endorse Ajit Pawar Supporting BJP

Ajit Pawar supporting the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra was his “personal decision and not of the Nationalist Congress Party”, Sharad Pawar tweeted about his nephew after a stunning twist in Maharashtra politics in which Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP took oath as the Chief Minister of the state and Ajit Pawar as his deputy. However, the entire NCP is believed to have backed the Devendra Fadnavis government.

“Ajit Pawar’s decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his,” Sharad Pawar, the 79-year-old chief of the NCP, tweeted.

Mr Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were sworn-in by Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari at a function in the Raj Bhavan at around 8 am in the presence of a few BJP and NCP leaders, and other government officials.

Ajit Pawar’s decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his.

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) November 23, 2019

The dramatic developments come hours after intense deliberations between the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena to form a government in the state reached the final stage on Friday and the three parties inched closer to announce an alliance. After the first joint meeting on Friday, the three parties said Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be the Chief Minister.

The Shiv Sena said it was “stabbed in the back” by Ajit Pawar. “This has been nothing but a stab in the back of the people of Maharashtra,” said Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut. “Ajit Pawar was there in the meeting yesterday, but late last night his phone was suddenly switched off and even the NCP don’t exactly know what happened suddenly,” he added.

Mr Raut said Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar would meet and address a press conference.”I am certain that the decision taken by Ajit Pawar has nothing to do with Sharad Pawar. What Ajit Pawar has done will never be forgiven by Chhatrapati Shivaji and the people of Maharashtra,” said Mr Raut.

“Maharashtra needed a stable government, not a khichidi shaasan (mishmash government),” Mr Fadnavis said after taking oath, adding that the Shiv Sena “did not follow people’s mandate”. “We were invited by the Governor to form government. I thank NCP for supporting us,” he added.

President’s Rule in Maharashtra was revoked at 5.47 am, hours before Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were administered by the Governor. This is Mr Fadnavis’s second term as Chief Minister.

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