NEW DELHI: In a fast-changing political developments in Maharashtra, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar split the party and joined the Eknath Shinde-led coalition government along with eight others.
Pawar junior, who was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, has insisted that nearly all the party MLAs were with him, but his uncle and party chief Sharad Pawar insisted that the surprise defection did not have his blessings.“I have set out on a tour of the State and galvanise the cadre. They should not feel disillusioned with what some leaders have done,” Sharad told reporters.
According to somepolitical observers, the rebellion appears to suggest that it was a planned move for mutual gain. They appear convinced that Sharad has initiated the move in order to join hands with the BJP ahead of the Assembly and General elections.
In Delhi’s political corridor, the buzz is on the conspiracy theory. “Ajit Pawar may betray Sharad Pawar, but Praful Patel can’t. What happened likely had Sharad Pawar’s blessings for mutual gain. The NCP gains power and relief from the Enforcement Directorate. The BJP reduces dependence on Shinde,” opined a political analyst.
In 2019, Ajit had to quit the Devendra Fadnavis government after a mere 80 hours with many voicing suspicion that he had approached the BJP at his uncle’s behest. At that time too, the senior Pawar had tweeted that it was Ajit’s personal decision.
It is pertinent to recall here that Shinde and 39 other Shiv Sena leaders too had revolted in last June against the then Maharashtra chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government.
