Sharad Pawar

If the NCP can form government with the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP, Patel, who has switched over to Ajit Pawar's side, said in an interview to Marathi news channel Zee 24 Taas.

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".

Earlier, NCP president Sharad Pawar sacked Patel and Tatkare, both MPs who have sided with Ajit Pawar in his rebellion, from 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.

Addressing NCP workers and supporters in Karad a day after Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the party to become the deputy chief minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government, Sharad Pawar also said "some of our people fell prey to BJP's tactics to break other parties."

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.

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.

Pawar's swearing-in follows rumors of his discontentment over not being appointed as the NCP state unit chief.

The agenda of the meet was not known. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar told reporters in Pune that he was unaware of the meeting in Mumbai.

The Union government should take developments in the states which share borders with China and Pakistan all the more seriously, he told reporters.

Holding a press conference, Pawar also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had become restless after the Opposition parties' meeting in Patna. Next meeting will take place at Bengaluru on July 13-14, he informed.

There were discussions on issues like inflation, unemployment and "deliberate attempts" at some places to encourage communal forces, Pawar told reporters in Baramati town here in Maharashtra.

Sharad Pawar had last month offered to resign from the presidency of the party which was followed by fervent remonstrations from the party members as well as other political leaders.

A delegation of NCP workers led by Pawar's daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule met Mumbai police chief Vivek Phansalkar demanding action.

Pawar’s remarks came against the backdrop of some youths displaying photos of 17th Century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in a procession in Ahmednagar and tension prevailing in Kolhapur city on Wednesday over the alleged use of Tipu Sultan's image along with an objectionable audio message as social media "status" by some local people.

The senior NCP leader was speaking in a ‘Sauhard Baithak’ (meeting to foster amity) at Mahatma Gandhi Mission University in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad.