Ajit Pawar stated that the "NCP opted to join the Maharashtra alliance government to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to move India forward on the path of development."
Ajit Pawar's decision comes following allegations that he was disgruntled about being denied the position of party state unit chairman. Ajit Pawar had also offered to quit as Leader of the Opposition in exchange for an organisational role. In his insurrection, he has enlisted the support of senior NCP leader Praful Patel.
Ajit Pawar and more than 30 other NCP MLAs join the BJP alliance; Pawar takes oath as Dy CM; and 8 other NCP MLAs are appointed ministers.
Ajit Pawar teaming up with the BJP and Shiv Sena to form the NDA administration in Maharashtra was something that astute political observers had predicted.
On 2 July 2023, Pawar took the oath of office as Deputy Chief Minister and told why he joined the local BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government.
Ajit Pawar has been serving as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister for five consecutive years, twice in a Congress-led government before 2019, twice in Shiv sena-led government and now under BJP.
After arriving at the Raj Bhawan, Ajit Pawar offered his resignation as opposition leader to Governor Ramesh Bais.
Along with Pawar, eight other NCP lawmakers took the oath of office as members of the NDA administration on Sunday at Raj Bhawan. They are as follows:
Chhagan Bhujbal
Aditi Tatkare
Dilip Walse Patil
Hasan Mushrif
Dhananjay Munde
Sanjay Bansode
Ramraje Nimbalkar
Anil Bhaidas Patil
More about Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar is an Indian politician from Maharashtra, India. He was born on July 22, 1959, in Baramati, Maharashtra. He is a member of the Pawar family, a prominent political dynasty in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar is the nephew of Sharad Pawar, a veteran politician and the founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Ajit Pawar has had a strong political career, primarily associated with the NCP. He has held various positions in the Maharashtra government, including serving as the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of various portfolios such as Irrigation, Power, and Finance. He has also been elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) multiple times, representing the Baramati constituency.
Throughout his political career, Ajit Pawar has been known for his strong influence in the cooperative sector and his involvement in infrastructure development projects, particularly in the irrigation sector. He has been both praised for his contributions and faced criticism for alleged irregularities and controversies related to irrigation projects during his tenure.
