Ajit Pawar joins Eknath Shinde govt; split in NCP

New Delhi: Days after NewsDrum reported, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, backed by 29 MLAs, is likely to join Eknath Shinde government.

Shinde and Pawar have reached Rajbhawan (governor’s house).

Pawar is likely to share the Deputy Chief Minister post with Devendra Fadnavis. 

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar risked the split of his party by naming his daughter Supriya Sule working president over Ajit Pawar.

Earlier on Sunday, Ajit Pawar met some party leaders and MLAs at his official residence in Mumbai.

However, NCP president Sharad Pawar, who was in Pune, said he was unaware of the meet, but added that Ajit Pawar, as leader of opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Assembly, can call a meeting of legislators.

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and party's working president Supriya Sule were among the leaders present at the meeting held at Ajit Pawar's official residence 'Devgiri', while state party president Jayant Patil was not present. Some MLAs were also present in the meeting.

The agenda of the meet was not known.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar told reporters in Pune that he was unaware of the meeting in Mumbai.

'On July 6, I have called a meeting of senior leaders and decisions related to the party will be discussed,'' he said.

The NCP chief also said that as the LoP, Ajit Pawar can call a meeting of legislators.