In a major development in Maharashtra politics on Sunday, NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs announced their support for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and took oath as ministers. NCP Maharashtra unit president Jayant Patil said on Sunday that all these leaders have been disqualified.
Addressing a press conference late on Sunday, Patil said, “The disqualification petition has been sent to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar.
”The number of MLAs is not important, the official whip of the party will be considered and this applies to all MLAs. “The recent judgement of the Supreme Court clearly states that a whip appointed by a party is considered official,” he said.
Patil cited the Supreme Court verdict on the split in the Shiv Sena after Eknath Shinde walked out with a group of MLAs to form the government with BJP support.
Patil said the party has written to the Election Commission to inform NCP founder Sharad Pawar that he has the support of most MLAs. We believe that more MLAs will return to NCP and we will admit them again,” he said, reported ANI.
Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, “Ajit Pawar has said that he does not have the support of the 36 MLAs he is claiming,” Ajit Pawar needs the support of 36 MLAs to avoid taking action under the Prohibition of Defection Act. Patil and party president Supriya Sule are in touch with all 53 MLAs,” Crasto said.
Ajit Pawar joined hands with BJP in 2019 and took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. However, the alliance did not last more than three days and Maha Vikas Aghadi returned to the NCP as the coalition government was formed. He was again sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government.
Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP MLAs Dharmababa Atram, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Valse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Anil Patil, Sanjay Bhansode took oath as ministers.
Speaking after his oath, Ajit Pawar said that we have not split the party, we have the support of all MLAs. He said that the NCP has supported the BJP-Shiv Sena government.
Opposition parties on Sunday criticized the BJP after Ajit Pawar extended support to the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said the saffron party is on an “MLA buying spree”.
“No words are enough to condemn the way the BJP is repeatedly undermining the mandate of Maharashtra. “Not only is democracy being taken away but they are using the national anthem as a cover for such disgraceful acts,” he tweeted.
“It is clear that the BJP has resumed its ‘washing machine operation’,” said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
“Those who joined the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra are facing serious corruption charges by the ED, CBI and Income Tax officials. Now they all got a clean chit,” he tweeted.
Ajit Pawar, Bhujbal and Mushrif are facing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate in money laundering cases.
