NCP’s Ajit Pawar Turns Tables, BJP Forms Govt in Maharashtra

On the morning of November 23, the entire country woke up to the shocking news that Bharatiya Janata Party has formed the government in Maharashtra with Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister and Ajit Pawar as deputy CM. The Saturday morning news flash is the latest twist in the high voltage political drama that has been ongoing in Maharashtra since October 24, when the Assembly elections results were declared. 

Till yesterday night, the leaders of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress were holding talks and planning to stake claim to form the government. At around 8 PM on Friday, Ajit Pawar called NCP’s state general secretary Shivajirao Garje and enquired about the MLAs’ letters of support regarding government formation, as per sources. The letters stated to have elected Ajit Pawar as the party’s legislative leader. Pawar requested Garje to meet him with the letters. 

Sources say that Garje was in the dark about what exactly was going to transpire. He assumed that Pawar’s request must be in line with the final discussions of Sena, NCP and Congress on government formation. 

Also read: Maharashtra: Sena-NCP-Congress Set to Form Govt Soon?

However, the overnight coup by Ajit Pawar has not just shocked Garje but the entire state. For the first two hours, everyone was thinking that not just Ajit but the entire NCP has shifted support to BJP. Ajit told ANI, “The delay in government formation due to the discussions with Shiv Sena and Congress has pushed me to take this decision.”

Sources close to Sharad Pawar said that he too was caught unaware when the news broke in. "He was preparing for the last meeting before staking claims, when he suddenly got a call from someone that Ajit has already been sworn in. Only after he called a few people, he came to know what had happened,” said a leader close to Pawar. 

The source added that Pawar immediately called Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leaders and informed them about the development. "He told Uddhav that he doesn't approve of the move by Ajit and will take strict action. He also said that NCP as a party is with Sena and Congress," said Sena leader, Sanjay Raut. 

Further course of action is expected to be revealed after a press conference which will be addressed by Sharad Pawar and Uddhav at 12:30 PM in Mumbai.

Sources also said that Sharad Pawar has called all NCP  MLAs to reach Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan in Mumbai for a meeting at 4 PM and that Pawar has personally called all those MLAs who could break away with Ajit. 

Update: After Ajit Pawar turned the tables, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed that they will defeat the newly sworn Devendra Fadnavis government on the floor of the house. Pawar said that strict action will be taken against Ajit Pawar immediately. He alleged that few of the MLAs were misled by him and taken to Raj Bhawan. One of the MLAs Buldana Rajendra Shingane from Sindkhedraja, also spoke to the media. He said, "We were called by Ajit Pawar to gather at one place. From there we were taken to Raj Bhawan. There, we saw him taking oath as the deputy chief minister. As soon as we left the Raj Bhawan, we went to (Sharad) Pawar saheb's home and informed him everything."

Uddhav Thackeray said that the government formed right now is a betrayal to Maharashtra. "This hidden decision of forming the government is nothing but a killing of people's wish of Maharashtra. I am sure that no Marathi person will not accept it," he said. 

Meanwhile, Congress too has cleared its stand after a meeting of its 44 MLAs. Congress's national treasurer Ahmed Patel said that his party will make sure that the newly formed government is defeated on the floor of the house. He categorically denied that the delay in formation of the government has led to current situation. "Talks were on right track. On Saturday, we were supposed to announce it formally. The issue of the CM post was also cleared out, and Uddhav was supposed to become the next chief minister. But BJP has played a very dirty game and the people will teach them a lesson."

On the other hand, BJP has aggressively slammed these three parties. "The delay in formation of the government was ultimately hurting the interests of people of Maharashtra. BJP has not spilt any party. We have support of MLAs, and we are sure that this new government will pass the floor test and will continue in the service of people," said BJP state president Chandrakant Patil.

Now NCP has called a meeting of its MLAs at 4 pm. Congress too has called another meeting of its MLAs at 5 pm, following which they will be taken to either Jaipur or Bhopal again. "If necessary, we will take steps," said NCP chief Sharad Pawar on whether he too will take MLAs to other locations.