Sign in

NCP crisis Highlights: Sharad Pawar to hold meeting on July 5 after Ajit Pawar switch

Ajit Pawar Highlights: NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra's deputy CM in the Shinde government on Sunday.

Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar
Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar Highlights: Nationalist Congress Party's senior leader Ajit Pawar joined the Maharashtra government as CM Eknath Shinde's deputy on Sunday. After Pawar, senior NCP leaders Dilip Walse Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal were among other eight leaders to take oath as ministers in the Shinde cabinet. The development came as Pawar met some party leaders and MLAs at his official residence in Mumbai earlier. Later, he reached Raj Bhawan, where the swearing ceremony took place in the presence of CM Shinde, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and governor Ramesh Bais, as well as supporters of Shinde faction and the BJP.

Earlier, Pawar announced that he wanted to step down as Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra and would like any party post. “I was never interested in working as Leader of Opposition but accepted the role on demand of the party MLAs. Assign me any post in the party organisation and I will do complete justice to whatever responsibility given to me,” he had said at a party event on Wednesday.

...Read More

Earlier, Pawar announced that he wanted to step down as Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra and would like any party post. “I was never interested in working as Leader of Opposition but accepted the role on demand of the party MLAs. Assign me any post in the party organisation and I will do complete justice to whatever responsibility given to me,” he had said at a party event on Wednesday.

Follow all the updates here:
Jul 2, 2023, 22:21:30 IST

'Biggest patron of corruption’: AAP takes swipe at PM Modi after Ajit Pawar switch

The AAP on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the "biggest patron of corruption", after NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight others joined the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra.

The AAP national convenor and Delhi chief minister asked Modi if he was not "ashamed" of seeing those who were called "corrupt" being inducted into the Shiv Sena-BJP government.

While Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister by Governor Ramesh Bais at a ceremony in the Raj Bhawan in Mumbai, the eight other NCP leaders took oath as ministers.

Jul 2, 2023, 21:52:19 IST

Fight for LoP starts between Congress and NCP

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe on Sunday said that the picture is not yet clear as to which party will appoint a Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly as the NCP, who had their Leader of Opposition earlier, no longer has the most number of MLAs.

The Congress and NCP seem to be in a fight to appoint the Leader of the Opposition after Congress Spokesperson Atul Londhe said that it is yet to be decided who would be the new LoP in Maharashtra.

"Full picture is not yet clear. Why the LoP was from NCP? Because they had more MLAs. But now, Congress has 45 MLAs with them. And as Ajit Pawar has claimed that he has 40 MLAs with him, then NCP will have only 13 MLAs left with them. The picture would be clear in two to three days," Atul Londhe said while speaking to ANI.

"All of us will fight in the assembly and then we will have the clarity on the Leader of Opposition," he added.

Jul 2, 2023, 21:27:54 IST

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul speak to Sharad Pawar as NCP splits between uncle-nephew

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said Sonia Gandhi spoke to Sharad Pawar to discuss the situation and extended support to him. Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi also spoke to Sharad Pawar as senior Pawar clarified that Ajit Pawar's action was not endorsed by the party. Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 21:12:49 IST

NCP workers spray black paint over photos of MLAs who switched sides

NCP workers spraying black paint on photos of those MLAs who joined the Eknath Shinde-led government along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

Jul 2, 2023, 20:48:18 IST

CPI leader D Raja takes swipe at BJP over Ajit Pawar switch

Even as the Opposition alliance in Maharashtra reeled under the seismic turn of events triggered by the exit of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar along with a band of loyalist MLAs, CPI leader D Raja on Sunday said the BJP was doing everything to stay in power.

Speaking to ANI after Pawar met the Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais along with fellow dissident NCP MLAs and took oath as the deputy CM, Raja said, "We should wait and see what impact this would have on the politics of Maharashtra and that of the country. The BJP is doing everything to stay in power."

Jul 2, 2023, 20:18:11 IST

NCP to hold meeting on July 5 to discuss developments

In the wake of nine NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, joining the Eknath Shinde government, party chief Sharad Pawar has convened a meeting on July 5 in Mumbai to discuss the developments and the future course of action, its state unit chief Jayant Patil said on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the party to become the deputy chief minister, while eight other NCP leaders were sworn in as ministers in the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

Jul 2, 2023, 19:47:54 IST

Aaditya Thackeray's 4 takeaways as NCP splits

Former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said the political developments of Maharashtra -- the split of the Nationalist Congress Party with Ajit Pawar joining the BJP-Shinde government -- indicates once again that chief minister Eknath Shinde is incompetent. Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 19:46:12 IST

When did it all start? Tracing Ajit Pawar's long history of revolt and rebellion

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that they were already aware of the recent move by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar and few party MLAs to join the NDA-led Maharashtra government. Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 19:21:05 IST

NCP convenes metting of office bearers, district presidents, taluka presidents, and more on July 5

Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil has on Sunday announced that the party has called for a meeting of all office bearers, district presidents, taluka presidents, and heads of all frontal organizations at YB Chavan on July 5.

Jul 2, 2023, 19:10:39 IST

'Congress won't be affected…our alliance with Uddhav Thackeray is still on': Maharashtra Congress leader Ashok Chavan

Maharashtra Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Ajit Pawar joining BJP and taking oath as Maharashtra deputy chief minister said, "There won't be any effect on Congress, there is no question about that...we're still in opposition, our alliance with Uddhav Thackeray Faction & NCP is still on...” (ANI)

Jul 2, 2023, 18:49:22 IST

Who will be NCP's ‘reliable face’?

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar in a press conference held in Pune on Sunday, confidently responded to a question about the "reliable face" of the party. With a touch of enthusiasm, Pawar raised his hand and declared, "Sharad Pawar." Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 18:22:19 IST

NCP appoints Awhad as LoP in Maha Assembly

The Nationalist Congress Party appointed Jitendra Awhad as Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly after incumbent LoP Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde government as deputy chief minister on Sunday.

The MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa in neighbouring Thane district said NCP state unit president Jayant Patil had appointed him chief whip of the party and LoP in the Assembly.

Jul 2, 2023, 17:46:33 IST

‘I’m with sir': Jayant Patil extends support to Sharad Pawar

Amid the Maharashtra assembly fiasco, NCP MLA Jayant Patil has shared a picture of him with party chief Sharad Pawar and captioned it in Marathi, "I'm with sir'.

Jul 2, 2023, 17:29:03 IST

‘BJP’s washing machine resumed': Jairam Ramesh's sly jibe over NCP crisis

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took note of the recent development in the Maharashtra politics amid Ajit Pawar jumping ship to join the state assembly as the second deputy chief minister. He said, “Clearly the BJP's Washing Machine has resumed its operations. A number of new entrants into the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra today had been facing serious corruption charges with ED, CBI and Income Tax authorities after them. Now they have all got a clean chit. The Congress will intensify its efforts to free Maharashtra from the clutches of the BJP.”

Jul 2, 2023, 17:21:59 IST

‘Pawar saheb said Modi will be PM in 2024’: Newly sworn-in Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujpal

Minutes after being sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar on Sunday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for inspiring him to join the NDA government. Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 16:48:48 IST

Sharad Pawar says Ajit's rebellion individual; 'happy that PM Modi...'

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar disowned Ajit Pawar and his rebellion and said the party did not endorse Ajit Pawar's action and it was his individual decision. Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 16:38:58 IST

Have everyone's blessings: Ajit Pawar claim without taking Sharad Pawar's name

Maharashtra's new deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday made an explosive claim making it clear that they have the support of the Nationalist Congress Party. Read more

Jul 2, 2023, 16:20:38 IST

Akhilesh Yadav reacted to NCP crisis, alleges BJP of ‘doing this time to time’

Reacting to the recent NCP crisis in Maharashtra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that it is one of BJP's ‘experimentation’ which it does from time to time. 

“BJP does this from time to time, first they did this in Madhya Pradesh, and then in Maharashtra, but people are watching this,” he said.

Jul 2, 2023, 16:07:27 IST

Right after swearing in, Ajit Pawar changed his Twitter bio to…

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has updated his bio on his Twitter account after joining the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government. His new bio now reads 'Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra' along with 'Former LoP, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly'.

Jul 2, 2023, 15:58:47 IST

Ajit Pawar downplays Oppn unity after taking oath as Maha dy CM

Ajit Pawar on Sunday said the “Opposition trying to come together…But they have different situations in each state, there is no output in meeting.”

Jul 2, 2023, 15:52:55 IST

'Thought we should support development': Ajit Pawar

'We thought we should support development..': Ajit Pawar said Sunday while addressing the media after taking oath as Maharashtra's deputy CM.

Jul 2, 2023, 15:44:42 IST

Ajit Pawar's NCP camp was ‘upset’ with Sharad Pawar? What MLAs said

Some of the MLAs who accompanied Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) senior leader Ajit Pawar to the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, ahead of the dramatic swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, said they were “upset” with the party chief Sharad Pawar’s “unilateral” decision to share the stage and ally with Congress Rahul Gandhi at the Opposition unity meeting in Patna last month, news agency ANI reported.

Jul 2, 2023, 15:38:31 IST

Ajit Pawar changes Twitter bio soon after taking oath in Shinde cabinet

Jul 2, 2023, 15:31:13 IST

Watch: Sharad Pawar leaves from his residence in Pune

Jul 2, 2023, 15:27:37 IST

Ajit Pawar's move ahead of Lok Sabha, Maharashtra assembly election next year

Assembly polls in Maharashtra are likely to be held around October next year, some months after the Lok Sabha elections.

Jul 2, 2023, 15:21:41 IST

Watch: NCP leader Praful Patel leaves from Raj Bhavan, Mumbai

Jul 2, 2023, 15:12:59 IST

‘Earlier double engine, now triple engine govt in Maha’: Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde said Sunday that now the state will be run by a “triple engine government” - an upgrade from the earlier ‘double engine government’ - a reference used by the Bharatiya Janata Party to emphasise its rule at the Centre as well as state assemblies.

Jul 2, 2023, 15:06:12 IST

Uddhav camp's ‘back stab’ jibe amid NCP crisis in Maharashtra

Amid the NCP crisis, Uddhav Thackeray faction leader and spokesperson Anand Dubey, said Sunday, “The leaders who were in the opposition and used to criticise the government until yesterday, have joined the same government today. Today BJP wanted Ajit Pawar, so they took him, but we should not forget that BJP has a history to stab in the back.”

Jul 2, 2023, 15:02:33 IST

Photo: Maha CM Eknath Shinde, deputy Fadnavis and Pawar at Raj Bhavan

Governor Ramesh Bais was also present on the occasion on Sunday.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:59:45 IST

Photo: Maharashtra deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai

Jul 2, 2023, 14:55:40 IST

List of MLAs took oath as ministers with Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra

Ajit Pawar has been sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra for the third time since 2019. Here's the list of rest of the leaders.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:52:35 IST

Aditi Tatkare takes oath as minister

Jul 2, 2023, 14:49:21 IST

‘Let them have their way’: Sanjay Raut's flak over Ajit Pawar jumping ship

The senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said he talked to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and added that people will not tolerate this ‘game’ for long.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:45:14 IST

'More than 40 MLAs supporting Shinde govt': Maha minister Sudhir Mungantiwar

Maharashtra Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, said Sunday that “More than 40 MLAs are extending support to the government. Almost the entire NCP will be joining…”

Jul 2, 2023, 14:43:51 IST

NCP crisis: Hasan Mushrif takes oath as minister

Jul 2, 2023, 14:42:10 IST

Senior NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil takes oath as minister

Jul 2, 2023, 14:36:19 IST

Senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal takes oath

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal took oath as minister in the Shinde cabinet in Raj Bhavan on Sunday.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:32:18 IST

Ajit Pawar swears in Maha deputy CM

Ajit Pawar has taken the oath as Maharashtra deputy CM.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:31:28 IST

Ajit Pawar, 9 other MLAs to be sworn in shortly

Maharashtra govenror Ramesh Bais entered the Darbar Hall in Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. The swearing in ceremony is expected to start in the next few minutes.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:29:59 IST

Watch: Visuals from Raj Bhavan, Mumbai where Pawar's oath ceremony likely shortly

Jul 2, 2023, 14:26:29 IST

‘Just had a talk with Sharad Pawar, he said…’: Sanjay Raut on NCP crisis

Amid NCP crisis, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday tweeted, "Some people have taken up the task of cleaning up Maharashtra politics. Let them have their way. I just had a talk with Mr. Sharad Pawar. He said ‘I am strong. We have the support of the people. We will rebuild everything again with Uddhav Thackeray’. Yes, people will not tolerate this game for long."

Jul 2, 2023, 14:23:06 IST

Why are NCP MLAs upset with Sharad Pawar?

Some MLAs accompanying NCP leader Ajit Pawar to Raj Bhawan were “upset” with Sharad Pawar’s “unilateral” decision to share stage and ally with Rahul Gandhi at the opposition unity meet in Patna, news agency ANI reported citing sources.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:20:09 IST

'Ajit Pawar and other MLAs will be sworn in': Maha BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Sunday that Ajit Pawar and other NCP MLAs have come to Raj Bhawan where an oath ceremony will be held.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:13:27 IST

'Don't know the reason': Sharad Pawar on Ajit's meeting with Shinde

“I do not know exactly why this meeting has been called but being the leader of the Opposition, he (Ajit Pawar) has the right to call a meeting of MLAs. He does that regularly. I don't have much detail about this meeting,” NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Jul 2, 2023, 14:08:47 IST

NCP leader to meet Maha CM shinde, may join govt

Ajit Pawar is en route to meet Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde in Raj Bhawan on Sunday. While the reason for the meeting has not yet been disclosed, it is speculated that he may join the Shinde government.

Home India news NCP crisis Highlights: Sharad Pawar to hold meeting on July 5 after Ajit Pawar switch