Mumbai, July 2nd, 2023: In a significant political development in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with nine other party leaders, took oath as ministers in the Shinde-Fadnavis government. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Sunday, marking a new chapter in the state’s political landscape.
Ajit Pawar assumed the role of Deputy Chief Minister, while the other NCP leaders who were sworn in as ministers include Dilip Walse Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare (daughter of Sunil Tatkare), Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Dhamraobaba Atram, Sanjay Bansode, and Anil Patil. These individuals are known to be close associates of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
While reports indicate that over 30 NCP MLAs are aligned with Ajit Pawar, it remains unclear whether they have officially joined the government as NCP representatives or as independent MLAs, as there has been no official statement from Sharad Pawar, the party chief. It is worth noting that Jayant Patil, the President of NCP Maharashtra, was not included in the list of NCP leaders who joined Ajit Pawar’s faction.
Amidst these developments, Sanjay Raut, a leader from the Shiv Sena party, tweeted that Sharad Pawar is not supporting the revolt. Ajit Pawar’s discontent with the party leadership had reportedly been growing over the past few days, primarily related to the selection of the party state president. His aspirations to secure the position of party state chief remained unfulfilled.
This recent political development marks the third major shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape since the 2017 general assembly elections. It is Ajit Pawar’s third time assuming the role of Deputy Chief Minister, following the previous assembly election in the state.
As these new leaders take office, the expectations of the people of Maharashtra for effective governance and progress remain high. The dynamics between political parties will shape the future trajectory of the state, and it remains to be seen how this new configuration will impact Maharashtra’s development and welfare.
