Ajit Pawar

NCP Crisis Highlights: Ajit Pawar faction to hold crucial meeting with MLAs and office bearers in Mumbai, while Sharad Pawar's loyalists scheduled to meet him at YB Chavan Centre today.

Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on Sunday as deputy chief minister while eight other NCP MLAs took oath as ministers.

NCP national president Sharad Pawar has called a meeting at 1pm while the Ajit Pawar faction, which has aligned with the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis dispensation, will have its meet at 11am, functionaries from both sides said.

Pawar also asserted that he is the last authority in NCP and had fixed some responsibilities for Patel.

Earlier in the day, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said the names of Patel and Tatkare had been "removed from the membership register of the party".

Addressing a press conference here, Sharad Pawar said he has launched a statewide tour to strengthen the NCP and boost the confidence of party workers, unfazed by actions of a few leaders. He also said the Congress was justified in claiming the post of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly.

Ajit Pawar was a constant by his uncle’s side since and when Sharad Pawar formed his own party NCP in 1999, he stuck by him.

With Ajit Pawar's move to join the ruling Eknath Shinde-BJP coalition on Sunday changing political dynamics in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also claimed that Shinde will lose the CM's post.

State NCP president Jayant Patil on Sunday said his party has moved the disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and eight others.

Ajit Pawar on Sunday led a vertical split in the NCP to become the deputy chief minister, shocking his uncle Sharad Pawar, who founded the party 24 years ago. Eight NCP leaders were also sworn in as ministers in the Shinde-BJP government.

Addressing a press conference late night in Mumbai, Sule said her father and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's stature will rise further.

Addressing a press conference late Sunday, Patil said the disqualification petition has been sent to Speaker Rahul Narvekar.

Pawar said the "credit" for this development goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi because some leaders in NCP became restless days after the PM made a statement about corruption.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar who was at the receiving end of his nephew's move during the day, had, 45 years ago, split the Congress and walked out with 40 MLAs, leading to the collapse of the Vasantdada Patil government.

Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the NCP 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.

The Congress' Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena and the NCP have now seen splits in the last one year.

Senior TMC leader Babul Supriyo who was earlier a minister in the Modi govt said tainted leaders under the scanner of ED for corruption have been put into a "washing machine" manufactured by the BJP to remove their stains and blemishes.

Sharad Pawar said his endeavour after this development would be to travel as much as possible within state and the country, and build relations with people.

Awhad, 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.

Our specially curated package of the big stories to help you stay at the top of your game.