Ajit Pawar takes oath as Maha Deputy CM

NCP leader Ajit Pawar 

On Sunday, 2 July, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar joined forces with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has sworn in as the new deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Additionally, eight other leaders were appointed as ministers in the state cabinet.

Addressing the media, Ajit Pawar said: "The development on Maharashtra, getting most central funds for the state, and the satisfaction of the people of the state were the reasons behind the decision. We have joined the government as the Nationalist Congress party and will fight any and every election with the name and symbol of the NCP."

"The decision we took 3.5 years ago was also strategic. If we can join hands with the Shiv Sena, we van join hands with the BJP. We joined hands with the BJP in Nagaland too," he added.

Watch the oath taking ceremony here:

LIVE |📍 मुंबई | शपतविधी समारोह https://t.co/DZNjtREDKC

— भाजपा महाराष्ट्र (@BJP4Maharashtra) July 2, 2023

Over 30 out of 54 NCP MLAs from Maharashtra are reportedly supporting Ajit Pawar. The move was welcomed by BJP leaders, including CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, at Raj Bhavan.

Some big names joining hands with the BJP and were inducted as ministers include loyalists of Sharad Pawar like Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, and Hassan Mushrif. The other NCP leaders inducted in the cabinet include prominent leaders Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode, Dharamraobaba Atram, and Anil Bhaidas Patil.

It comes weeks after Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and Praful Patel were appointed as NCP working presidents, and months after Sharad Pawar withdrew his resignation as party chief.

This development is a major setback for Sharad Pawar and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra.