Ajit Pawar-Led Vertical Split Shocks Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief To Take Action Against Defectors. Top Points

NCP leader Ajit Pawar's surprising split from the party surprises party supremo Sharad Pawar, who plans to take action against defectors. Read on the top points here.

Ajit Pawar joins Maharashtra government as deputy chief minister with the support of several MLAs.

In a day of intense political upheaval in Maharashtra, NCP leader Ajit Pawar orchestrated a surprising vertical split within the party, and became the state's deputy chief minister again after joining the government. Along with Ajit Pawar, eight NCP leaders were sworn in as ministers at Raj Bhavan. While Sharad Pawar tried to put on a brave face, according to media reports, a significant majority of 36 of the 53 NCP MLAs backed the new deputy CM, cementing Ajit Pawar's position within the party.

READ | Maha NCP Crisis: Ajit Pawar Does An Eknath Shinde, Becomes Deputy CM — A Timeline

Top Points: 

• Ajit Pawar's rebellion is believed to be prompted by the presence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule at an opposition conclave in Patna, according to reports. 
• Ajit Pawar justified NCP's decision to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government, emphasising development and praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He further denied any split in the NCP, stating that they will contest future elections under the party's name and symbol, claiming unanimous support from elected representatives.
• Later that day, in a press conference, Sharad Pawar claimed that the NCP did not make the decision to align with the BJP-Shiv Sena government and promised action against those who joined the state Cabinet. Sharad Pawar displayed resilience despite the upheaval, demonstrating that such party rebellions are not unfamiliar to him.
• Chief Minister Eknath Shinde welcomed the new developments, stating that Maharashtra now has one chief minister and two deputy chief ministers, leading to faster state development. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed that 40 out of 53 NCP MLAs have extended support to the state government.
• After speaking with Sharad Pawar about the NCP's split, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray expressed hope for a successful governance alliance between Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, while party leader Sanjay Raut warned that people will not tolerate the political manoeuvring for an extended period.

READ | 'Triple Engine Govt' Vs 'Mockery Of Democracy': Leaders React To Ajit Pawar Joining Eknath Shinde Govt