After BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister in Maharashtra along with Ajit Pawar as his deputy, NCP's MLA Supriya Sule changed her WhatsApp status and wrote: "Party and Family split". This cryptic status directed towards the rift within the Pawar family and the NCP. In a major turn of events, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in on Saturday (November 23) morning for a second term as Maharashtra Chief Minister. NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office to the two leaders at Raj Bhawan. This development comes hours after it was almost confirmed that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. As the tables turned, Sule wrote another status which stated:
"Who do you trust in life...never felt so cheated in my life... defended him, loved him...look what I get in return. - Supriya Sule, NCP MLA
Blessing in disguise for Sharad Pawar?
This was not a situation the Pawars may have wanted, but it could be a blessing in disguise for Sharad Pawar said sources, as Sharad Pawar will be able to settle his daughter Supriya Sule as the undisputed leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
It was Ajit Pawar who had restricted Supriya Sule's operation to Delhi only, but of late Sule was trying to take control of the party in the state. Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar's only daughter, was first elected to the Rajya Sabha and then in the Lok Sabha from Baramati, the family stronghold. Sources said now there was no one to challenge Supriya Sule in the party and she will be catapulted to the top position.
Ajit Pawar's rebellion could prove to be a boon for Sule, as Ajit Pawar took advantage of his being the elected leader of the Legislative party. In the late-night development the junior Pawar ditched his uncle and mentor and formed the government with the BJP and became the Deputy Chief Minister.
Ajit Pawar was in talks with the BJP
Sources told that Ajit Pawar was in talks with the BJP through party MP Sunil Tatkare, and Ajit Pawar had the support of around half the MLAs of the NCP. Sharad Pawar was said to be apprehensive about his nephew, so to prevent a party from splitting, he had started parallel negotiation with the Shiv Sena to form a government and kept both Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare part of the negotiating team in Delhi and Mumbai.
Sunil Tatkare was the key pointsman between the BJP and NCP leader. Before the election in the state, Ajit Pawar had resigned as MLA and it was only after much persuasion by Sharad Pawar that he was pacified, but the turf war between Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar continued. During the UPA rule, it was decided in the family that Supriya Sule will do politics at the central level and Ajit Pawar will manage affairs of the state.
(With inputs from wires)
