On July 2, 2023, a major political shakeup occurred in Maharashtra, India. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) witnessed a significant development within its ranks. Ajit Pawar, the nephew of NCP President Sharad Pawar, took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This sudden turn of events took place at Raj Bhavan, where eight other NCP leaders, including Dilip Walse-Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, were also sworn in as ministers in the Shinde-Fadnavis-Pawar Government.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, Ajit Pawar held a press conference where he expressed that the MLAs would be contesting the forthcoming elections under the NCP name and symbol. He stated that they have the blessings of everyone in the party and are committed to working towards the progress and welfare of Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar's remarks raised questions about the NCP's alliance with the Shiv Sena, as he questioned why the NCP couldn't align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if they could partner with the Shiv Sena.
In response, Sharad Pawar addressed the situation in a press conference and clarified that he was not upset with anyone except Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. He criticized them for abandoning the guidelines of the party president and taking a "wrong path." Sharad Pawar emphasized that Ajit Pawar's stance of aligning with the BJP was not compatible with the NCP's principles.
The swearing-in of Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders marked the fourth oath-taking ceremony at Maharashtra's Raj Bhavan in as many years. The state assembly elections, involving all 288 seats, were scheduled to take place the following year.
The political developments in Maharashtra drew reactions from various political parties. The PDP and CPI(M) accused the BJP of engineering splits in regional parties to cover up its alleged failures in governance. They highlighted the trend of the BJP absorbing leaders from other parties into its own government. The Congress, on the other hand, expressed its support for Sharad Pawar and criticized the BJP for joining hands with NCP leaders who were facing corruption charges.
The Kerala unit of the NCP stood with Sharad Pawar, denouncing Ajit Pawar's actions and affirming their support for the party's central leadership. The JD(U) blamed the BJP for the NCP split, while opposition parties accused the BJP of hypocrisy for inducting leaders with corruption allegations and then claiming to fight against corruption.
The political upheaval in Maharashtra drew attention and criticism from various quarters. Opposition parties questioned the BJP's ethics and accused them of manipulating political alliances for their own benefit. Jitendra Awhad, the newly-appointed Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, stated that the true numbers supporting Ajit Pawar would become clear once Sharad Pawar starts reaching out to the MLAs personally.
Overall, the political shakeup in Maharashtra created a significant stir, with political leaders expressing their opinions, alliances being questioned, and the future course of Maharashtra's political landscape becoming uncertain.
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