A Vertical Split in the Nationalist Congress Party: Ajit Pawar Joins the Maharashtra Government

In a surprising turn of events, Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government as the Deputy Chief Minister, causing a vertical split within the party. This decision was made after Ajit Pawar and his supporters felt slighted by the presence of NCP president Sharad Pawar and working president Supriya Sule at an Opposition meeting in Patna. As Ajit Pawar took the oath as deputy CM, eight other NCP leaders were also sworn in as ministers. This blog post will delve into the details of this political development and its implications.

The Oath-Taking Ceremony:

Governor Ramesh Bais administered the oath of office to Ajit Pawar as the deputy Chief Minister at the Raj Bhawan. Additionally, eight prominent NCP leaders, namely Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmarao Atram, Anil Patil, and Sanjay Bansode, were also sworn in as ministers. This move signifies a significant shift in the power dynamics within the NCP and the Maharashtra government.

Reasons for the Split:

Sources reveal that Ajit Pawar and his supporters were displeased by the participation of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule in an Opposition meeting held in Patna. This perceived disregard for Ajit Pawar's faction led to the decision to join the Maharashtra government under Eknath Shinde's leadership. The deepening rift within the NCP has raised questions about the party's internal cohesion and future direction.

Resignation of Ajit Pawar as Leader of Opposition:

Ajit Pawar's appointment as deputy CM resulted in his resignation from the position of Leader of Opposition in the Lower House of the Maharashtra Assembly. The Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and NCP working president Praful Patel were present during the ceremony at the Raj Bhawan.

BJP's Claims of NCP Support:

The state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has asserted that 40 MLAs from the NCP, out of the total of 53, have extended their support to the state government. These claims indicate a potential realignment of political forces in Maharashtra ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections scheduled for next year.

The Background:

This development comes one year after a revolt led by Eknath Shinde against the Shiv Sena, then an undivided party resulted in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Subsequently, Shinde was sworn in as the Chief Minister, with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis serving as the deputy CM. However, their government lasted only 80 hours, leading to the formation of the MVA government, which included the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, with Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister.

Conclusion:

The decision of Ajit Pawar and his faction to join the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has caused a significant rift within the NCP. This political development not only alters the power dynamics within the party but also raises questions about its future trajectory. With the state Assembly elections on the horizon, Maharashtra's political landscape is likely to witness further realignments and power struggles. The implications of these developments will undoubtedly shape the course of the state's governance and politics in the coming months.