Shocking betrayal or bold move? Ajit Pawar shakes up Maharashtra politics

In a twist to the tumultuous political scene in Maharashtra, senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Ajit Pawar, surprisingly joined the state government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Sworn in as the new Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar, along with several other party leaders, crossed party lines, adding a new dimension to the state’s political dynamics.

The unexpected move was clarified by Pawar, who stated that his allegiance to NCP hasn’t changed despite joining the state government. Earlier in the day, rumors swirled around the senior leader expressing discontent over not being chosen as the party’s state unit chief. This dissatisfaction reportedly led to an urgent meeting of the NCP MLAs, with Ajit Pawar even offering to resign as the opposition leader.

Dramatic shift in Maharashtra politics as NCP’s Ajit Pawar joins Shinde’s government. Photo courtesy of YASHZ390/Wikimedia Commons.

Further intensifying the political upheaval, around 30 MLAs followed in Pawar’s footsteps, joining him in the government. The prominent shift also included eight ministers – Chaggan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Dilip Walse Patil, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmobaba Atram, Sanjay Bansode, and Anil Patil.

The incumbent Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, welcomed Ajit Pawar’s decision and emphasized that his experience will bolster Maharashtra’s development. He compared the new political setup to a “triple engine government,” expecting it to bring positive changes to the state.

Ajit Pawar reciprocated this positive sentiment, stating that the primary objective was to prioritize Maharashtra’s development. He highlighted the forthcoming cabinet expansion and further justified his decision by citing NCP’s previous collaboration with BJP in Nagaland.

Despite the seeming disarray within the NCP, party leader Sharad Pawar expressed satisfaction over his colleagues’ decision to join the NDA government. He acknowledged the unexpected stance taken by some party members but reaffirmed his faith in the common people and pledged to work towards strengthening the party once more.