The name of Ajit Pawar, who had led a revolt and joined hands with the BJP, but is now back in the NCP, had been doing the rounds for the deputy chief minister’s post. Also, there were strong speculations of his party colleague Jayant Patil, who had replaced him as the leader of the NCP legislature party, getting the second top post in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government led by Uddhav Thackeray.
Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil, however, confirmed that they will be taking oath as ministers. "NCP chief Sharad Pawar saheb has chosen two MLAs from the party to take oath as ministers and I am one of them. I will take oath as minister today evening," Bhujbal said at an event organised in Pune to mark the death anniversary of social reformer Jyotiba Phule.
Responding to a question on which portfolio he is expecting in the Cabinet, Bhujbal said "Senior leaders from the party, including Sharad Pawar saheb, will make a decision on it".
On Wednesday night, NCP leader Praful Patel announced that there would be only one deputy chief minister in the new government.
Ajit was invited to the talks on portfolio distribution and reportedly demanded berths for his loyalists.
On Thursday, reports emerged of Pawar going incommunicado, regarding which a NCP spokesperson said. "Ajit Pawar has not gone incommunicado, he has intentionally switched off his mobile phone to avoid frequent calls. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony".
Reports say six or seven ministers are expected to take oath with Uddhav today evening at the Shivaji Park The ministry is likely to be expanded a week later.
Those who might get ministerial berths in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government are the Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, NCP leaders Jayant Patil and Chhaggan Bhujbal and senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat and former CM Ashok Chavan.