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BJP, NCP MLAs join hands in Maharashtra: Ajit Pawar's decision is not of party, says Praful Patel

NCP chief Shard Pawar has also clarified that NCP doesn't support or endorse the decision of Ajit Pawar. We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his," Sharad Pawar tweeted.

BJP, NCP MLAs join hands in Maharashtra: Ajit Pawar's decision is not of party, says Praful Patel
Author
Mumbai, First Published Nov 23, 2019, 11:40 AM IST

Mumbai: A big surprise sprang upon the Congress, a few members of the NCP and the Shiv Sena as news broke that the BJP and NCP have joined hands. Early this morning, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister and Ajit Pawar was sworn in as his deputy.

However, NCP leader Praful Patel on Saturday said that newly sworn-in Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar going with the BJP is not an NCP decision as party chief Sharad Pawar does not extend any support to it.

"This is not NCP's decision and does not have Sharad Pawar saheb's support," said Praful Patel.

Meanwhile, Shard Pawar has also clarified that NCP doesn't support or endorse the decision of Ajit Pawar.

"Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the NCP. We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his," Sharad Pawar tweeted.

In an overnight development, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis earlier this morning took oath as Maharashtra chief minister for the second consecutive term while Pawar took oath as deputy chief minister of the state. The oath was administered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to Fadnavis and Pawar at Raj Bhawan.

NCP's Sharad Pawar joining hands with BJP to form a government came as a big jolt to the efforts by Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena to cobble an alliance to bereft BJP of power corridors.

The move came at a time when deliberations between Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena seemingly reached the final stage on Friday.

The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, could not stake claim to form a government as its ally Shiv Sena remained firm on rotating the chief minister's post and equal sharing of Cabinet berths.

Shiv Sena parted its ways with BJP to explore ways to form a government. It, however, failed to prove the support of the required number of MLAs in the time given by state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

The Governor had then invited NCP, the third-largest party, to prove its ability to form the government failing which President's Rule was imposed in the state.

The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44. 

(With ANI inputs)

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