'Double Engine Now Triple Engine Govt': Maha CM Eknath Shinde On Ajit Pawar-Led NCP Unit Joining Govt

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde while about NCP leader Ajit Pawar joining his government, said that the Double engine government is now a triple-engine government.

Following NCP leader Ajit Pawar's decision to join the Maharashtra government, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said that the double-engine government has now become a triple-engine government and that Ajit Pawar's experience will help strengthen Maharashtra. NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday took 40 NCP MLAs and 3 MPs including Praful Patel away from the party and joined the Maharashtra coalition government. He took oath as the new Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

While walking out of the Raj Bhavan post the swearing-in ceremony, Shinde said, "I welcome Ajit Pawar and his supporters [in my government] for the sake of the development of the state. Their experience will be very useful. He himself came (to us) for the sake of development. When a dedicated worker is treated as secondary, such things happened."

CM Shinde also said that there is enough time to discuss seat sharing in the cabinet. "We have come together to develop Maharashtra. They (the opposition) got 4-5 seats in Lok Sabha elections, this time they will not manage to get even those number of seats," he added.

On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey while hitting out at Pawar said, "Those opposition leaders who used to curse the Maharashtra government till yesterday, they are taking the oath as Deputy CM today. Such a change of heart, is this because of the fear of ED?"

Earlier in the day, NCP working president Supriya Sule, party leader Praful Patel and others attended a party meeting at Ajit Pawar's residence. It was speculated that after the change in the national executive of the NCP, there may be a change in the Maharashtra unit as well. Leaders like Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, and Daulat Dorada also attended the meeting.

Notably, Ajit Pawar had expressed his desire to become the state president a few days ago. If sources are to be believed, Ajit Pawar was trying to put pressure on party chief Sharad Pawar.