Maharashtra: NCP Claims Support Of 52 MLAs Ahead Of SC Decision On Floor Test; Chhagan Bhujbal Meets Ajit Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday claimed support of 53 of 54 MLAs who have come back to the Sharad Pawar-led party, ahead of the Supreme Court's decision to conduct the floor test to prove the majority to form government in the state.

Two more NCP MLAs return to Mumbai, 52 legislators with us claims Nawab Malik.

New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday has claimed support of 52 MLAs who have come back to the Sharad Pawar-led party, ahead Of the Supreme Court's decision to conduct the floor test to prove the majority to form government in the state. "52 MLAs of the party have come back to us, one more is in touch with us," NCP leader Nawab Malik was quoted by ANI as saying. Meanwhile, in a big political twist, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has reached Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's residence to talk to him. This could be seen as the effort to convince Ajit Pawar to return to Sharad Pawar camp. Earlier, retorting to Ajit Pawar's remark on "BJP-NCP alliance", Bhujbal said he was trying to create a false perception among the people regarding the government formation in the state. Watch | Fifty Two MLAs are with us, 1 more in contact: Nawab Malik On the other hand, two out of four Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs who were reported missing since after government formation in Maharashtra,  as per the report, have reached Hyatt hotel in Mumbai on Monday. NCP leaders said that the two MLAs - Daulat Daroda and Anil Patil - were lodged in a hotel in Gurgaon and came back to Mumbai along with Nationalist youth Congress president Dheeraj Sharma and Nationalist Student Congress chief Sonia Doohan on late Sunday night. Another lawmaker Nitin Pawar had already reached Mumbai on Sunday while NCP MLA Narhari Zirwal is currently at a safe location in Delhi, party leaders said. On Sunday evening, all NCP MLAs were moved to hotel Hyatt in Mumbai, citing security concerns. Meanwhile, amid the political drama in Maharashtra, Bhujbal also said that NCP party chief Sharad Pawar did not direct anyone to do anything, nor did he agree to anything with regard to the Maharashtra government formation. "This thing is very clear that Pawar Sahab did not direct anyone to do anything, neither he agreed to anything. If there would have been something, he would have told everyone (NCP leaders). Later, he (Sharad Pawar) made it clear that whatever has happened is not correct so we have to trust these things. We are the witness to these things," Bhujbal said while speaking on the government formation in Maharashtra state. Watch | Chhagan Bhujbal reaches Ajit Pawar's residence After a prolonged uncertainty over the government formation that lasted for nearly a month, Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday early morning took oath for the second consecutive term as the state chief minister, while Ajit Pawar was sworn-in as deputy chief minister. NCP has removed Ajit Pawar as the leader of its legislative party, with the party chief saying that the decision of Ajit to align with the BJP was against the party line and any MLA who aligns with him is likely to face anti-defection law. The Supreme Court on Sunday issued notices to the Maharashtra government, state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his deputy Ajit Pawar and the Centre, asking for relevant documents and letters of support from MLAs by 10 am on November 25. (with ANI inputs)