Mumbai: Amid buzz about his growing proximity with the ruling BJP, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar dismissed reports that he had called a meeting of MLAs on Tuesday. However, reports said around 34 of the 53 Opposition MLAs have supported Ajit Pawar’s plan to be part of the BJP-Shiv Sena government.
In less than a year after rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde took over as the CM after putting an end to over a week-long political turmoil in Maharashtra and joining hands with the BJP, growing speculations about Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar joining the BJP is hinting at another turbulence.
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Even as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that NCP chief Sharad Pawar recently told Uddhav Thackeray that his party would never join hands with the BJP, even if anyone takes an individual decision to do so, Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar, two MLAs of the NCP asserted they would remain loyal to their leader Ajit Pawar no matter what ‘decision’ he takes in the coming days.
Even the senior NCP leader’s sudden move to cancel a Pune event coinciding with two top BJP leaders from Maharashtra rushing to Delhi has fuelled such speculations.
The Opposition MLAs said so amid a buzz that the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and four-time Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar might break ranks to join hands with the ruling BJP in the state, though a plea seeking disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena pending before the Supreme Court.
However, Ajit Pawar on Monday dismissed as false the reports that he had called a meeting of MLAs on Tuesday.
According to reports, almost 34 out of 53 Opposition MLAs have internally supported Ajit Pawar’s intention to join hands with the BJP and be part of the Shinde-Fadnavis government. Reports have said prominent faces, including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde supported Ajit Pawar’s intentions.
However, state NCP president Jayant Patil and party leader Jitendra Awadh do not favour him joining hands with the BJP. Some Ajit camp MLAs have met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and informed him about MLAs willing to align with the BJP though Sharad Pawar had refused to enter into an alliance with the BJP beforehand.
Reports have said the numbers in the Assembly are heavily in favour of the Shinde-BJP Government, but for the upcoming general elections, if Ajit, along with other NCP leaders, join the ranks, it could be a clean sweep for the NDA as Maharashtra brings 48 seats, the second highest number Lok Sabha, after Uttar Pradesh.
For the Ajit camp, joining the ruling party might shield them from central agencies as many Opposition leaders, such as Ajit and his family, Praful Patel, and Hasan Mushreef, are facing Enforcement Directorate heat. Also, joining hands with the ruling party will ensure the free flow of funds in their constituencies, giving them an edge in their constituencies ahead of the next polls.
