TLI Staff
Mumbai: In a stunning early morning development, Sharad Pawar’s nephew and senior NCP leader Ajith Pawar joined hands with rival BJP to form government in Maharashtra with Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has said Ajit Pawar’s decision to support the BJP to form Maharashtra government is his personal decision and not that of the party.
In a tweet he said, “We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his.”
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 high drama has been unfolding in Maharashtra ever since the election results came with no party winning clear majority to form the government. As no party could garner the required numbers, the state governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari recommending President’s rule.
In the last few weeks, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress Party had been discussing the possibility of forming an alliance government. Till Friday, the speculation had reached its peak that a Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance would form the government with Uddhav as Chief Minister.
With the latest development, Congress Party is in shock and feels betrayed by the NCP.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Shinghvi tweeted, “Surreal what I read about Maharashtra. Thought it was fake news. Candidly and personally speaking, our tripartite negotiations should not have gone on for more than three days…took too long. Window given was grabbed by fast-movers. Pawarji tussi great ho! Amazing if true, still not sure.”
Surreal wht I read abt #Maharashtra. Thought it was fake news. Candidly &personally speaking, our tripartite negotiations shd not have gone on for more than 3 days…took too long. Window given was grabbed by fast movers. #pawarji tussi grt ho! Amazing if true, still not sure
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) November 23, 2019
Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar told a news channel that he was not aware of development and had no knowledge of his nephew Ajit striking a secret deal with the BJP.
“I came to know at 7AM today about Ajit Pawar. I did not know before that. I will hold a press conference in sometime. Uddhav too will address the media. I will speak elaborately then,” the astute Maharashtra politician said.