Praful Patel Says 40 NCP MLAs With Ajit Pawar Faction Day Ahead Of Meetings Called By Rival Camps

Praful Patel's remark comes a day ahead of separate meetings called by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar camps in Mumbai.

NCP leader Praful Patel said on Tuesday that 40 MLAs were with the Ajit Pawar faction of the party, ANI reported. The NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

"We have 40+ MLAs with us, there is no question about that," Patel said. On Sunday, the Ajit Pawar camp claimed that 36 MLAs had signed the letter of support.

Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar, who formulated a split in the NCP by joining the Maharashtra government, claimed that a majority of NCP MLAs were backing him even as the Sharad Pawar camp claimed the deputy CM enjoyed the support of only 13 MLAs.

READ | Will First Have To Decide Who Represents NCP As A Party, Says Maharashtra Speaker

Ajit Pawar will need the support of at least 36 NCP MLAs to not attract the provisions of the anti-defection law.

Patel also said there was no ideological difference with the BJP and if the NCP could join hands with Shiv Sena, they could "definitely go" with the saffron party.

"In 2022, when Eknath Shinde had taken 40 MLAs to Surat and Guwahati, it was sure the MVA govt will collapse. As a consequence, there were 51 MLAs of the NCP, who at that time, clearly felt that we should be part of the govt. There is no ideological difference. If we have gone with Shiv Sena, then we can definitely go with the BJP," Patel, who was sacked by Sharad Pawar from the party, said.

Separate Meetings Called By NCP Factions On Wednesday

In what will be a platform to showcase their strength, the rival NCP factions will hold crucial meetings on Wednesday. The meetings are expected to bring some clarity on the number of MLAs in each camp.

Sharad Pawar has convened the meeting of MLAs, MPs, and office-bearers at 1 pm at Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai, PTI reported.

The Ajit Pawar camp will meet on the premises of the Mumbai Education Trust (MET) in suburban Bandra at 11 am.

The Sharad Pawar faction has already moved a disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and the eight MLAs who took oath as ministers. In a tit-for-tat, the Ajit Pawar camp has sought the disqualification of Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad, nominated as the Leader of the Opposition by Sharad Pawar.