Ajit Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, took the oath of office to become the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra on July 2. However, many speculate why did he switch his allegiance. However, one reason remains the best. Sharad Pawar is believed to have overlooked Ajit and replaced him with Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as the party’s working presidents after rescinding his resignation. This is regarded as the primary cause of Ajit defying his uncle and joining the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, which is in power.
महाराष्ट्रातील जनतेची इच्छा, राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षातील सहकाऱ्यांचा पाठिंबा, विश्वासाच्या बळावर आज राज्याचा उपमुख्यमंत्री म्हणून पद व गोपनीयतेची शपथ घेतली. माझ्या या पदाचा उपयोग जनतेच्या कल्याणासाठी, महाराष्ट्राच्या विकासासाठी होईल असा विश्वास देतो. pic.twitter.com/mvZ2oh7w6u
— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) July 2, 2023
Commenting on his nephew’s rebellion, Sharad Pawar today said, “Today’s episode may be new for others, but not for me. We will not fight over anyone saying anything by taking NCP’s name; we will go to people.”
It was rumoured that Ajit Pawar stated he would not be joining the BJP or Shiv Sena but remain as an independent party and lend support to the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.
Ajit Pawar with Devendra Fadnavis
Image Source: Hindustan Times
Defending his decision to share power with the BJP, he said, “If we can go with the Shiv Sena, then we can go with the BJP as well. The same thing happened in Nagaland as well. Overall and comprehensive development was taken into account. We have a vast experience of the administration, we can utilise it for the good.” Commenting on Ajit’s remark, Sharad Pawar said: “This may be his stance, but it is not compatible with the NCP’s principles.”
The Timeline of Events That Led To Today:
Here is a brief timeline of Ajit Pawar’s heroics in Maharashtra politics since 2019:
November 2019:
After Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena broke out from the alliance and demanded the CM position, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari then gave the oath of office to Ajit Pawar as the deputy CM while extending the NCP’s support to the BJP in creating the government.
Image Source: Deccan Herald
The CM, Fadnavis, was sworn in. As an alliance between the NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena took power, the previous administration quickly crumbled. Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister.
2019 To 2022:
Ajit Pawar remained the deputy CM until the MVA government, led by Uddhav Thackery, collapsed, and Shinde became the CM with Fadnavis as his deputy.
2022 To 2023:
Ajit Pawar was appointed the leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly as the Shinde-led Shiv Shena faction formed the government with the BJP.
April 2023:
When Ajit Pawar failed to show up for a Mumbai NCP meeting, speculations about his future political move began to circulate. He also missed a few more NCP gatherings around this time while making speeches supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Image Source: Mid-Day
All of this caused widespread concern about his increasing closeness to the BJP in political circles. Mr Pawar, though, insisted that he would always remain a part of the NCP.
May 2023:
In a surprise decision, Sharad Pawar announced his resignation from the post of NCP president. It was reported that Ajit Pawar was eyeing this post even as other names were making the rounds. The party supremo, however, withdrew his decision.
June 2023:
Supriya Sule and Praful Patel were appointed joint working presidents of the party after Sharad Pawar reorganised the organisation’s upper ranks. Ajit Pawar was not given a post because he was too occupied with his significant responsibilities as the leader of the Opposition. Days later, he requested to be transferred to a party role instead of the LoP position.
July 2023:
Ajit Pawar took oath as a deputy CM, joining the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government along with other NCP MLAs.
Also Read: Big Breaking: NCP Leader Ajit Pawar Joins NDA Government In Maharashtra
