Ajit Pawar's Decision To Support BJP His Own, Not Of NCP: Sharad Pawar Tweets On Big Political Twist In Maharashtra

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the decision taken by Ajit Pawar to support the BJP in forming the government in Maharashtra was his personal decision and not that of his party's.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the decision taken by Ajit Pawar to support the BJP in forming the government in Maharashtra was his personal decision and not that of his party's. (PTI)

Mumbai: Reacting to the big political twist in Maharashtra after Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar as deputy CM, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the decision taken by Ajit Pawar to support the BJP in forming the government in Maharashtra was his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). "Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his," NCP supremo wrote on Twitter. As per the reports, Sharad Pawar has claimed that he did not know about Ajit Pawar's move until 7 am in the morning today. He said he will hold a press conference later to speak on the matter.

Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his.

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) November 23, 2019

However, earlier the sources were quoted as saying that Sharad Pawar gave his consent to party leader Ajit Pawar and was part of the discussion leading to the formation of a BJP-led government in Maharashtra. "Ajit Pawar is the leader of Parliamentary board of NCP and no decision of NCP is taken without Sharad Pawar's assent," sources quoted as saying by ANI. Even as Congress sources alleged that they have been betrayed by Sharad Pawar as they do not believe that the decision was taken by Ajit Pawar was without NCP supremo's consent.

Watch | Ajit Pawar's decision to support BJP in Maharashtra his personal: Sharad Pawar NCP joining hands with BJP to form a government came as a big jolt to the efforts by Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena to cobble an alliance to bereft BJP of power corridors. The move came at a time when deliberations between Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena seemingly reached the final stage on Friday. Meanwhile, security was beefed up at BJP's office, NCP's office and CM residence in Mumbai after Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as CM. The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, could not stake claim to form a government as its ally Shiv Sena remained firm on rotating the Chief Minister's post and equal sharing of Cabinet berths. Shiv Sena parted its ways with BJP to explore ways to form a government. It, however, failed to prove the support of the required number of MLAs in the time given by state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The Governor had then invited NCP, the third-largest party, to prove its ability to form the government failing which President's Rule was imposed in the state. The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.