After Shiv Sena is NCP now headed for split? Ajit Pawar joins Shinde-Fadnavis govt, says ‘all MLAs with me’

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar led a ‘rebellion’ on Sunday, joining the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government. He was accompanied by eight other prominent lawmakers from the party and insisted that “all NCP MLAs were with him”.  A year after the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena rebellion toppled the Maharashtra government last year, there is now speculation that the NCP too may be heading towards a vertical split. 

“Several people will criticise now a bit. We don't give value to that and we will keep working for the progress of Maharashtra and that is why we have taken this decision. Most of our MLAs are satisfied with this. We have supported this govt with NCP Party. We will contest all elections in the name of NCP only,” Ajit Pawar said after the oath ceremony. 

Ajit Pawar said there was no split in NCP and claimed all the elected representatives (of the party) have supported the decision to join the government. He also said they would contest all future elections on the NCP's name and symbol.

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Party chief Sharad Pawar meanwhile said that action would be taken the NCP leaders who violated the party line. He rebutted suggestions that the recent developments had split his house.

"This is not about the question of a house. Such things happen in politics, and it has to be dealt with politically," he said.

Numerous Shiv Sena and BJP lawmakers have however claimed that 40 MLAs (out of 53) were supporting Ajit Pawar. 

"Ajit Pawar has the backing of more than 40 MLAs in Vidhan Sabha and more than 6 MLCs in Vidhan Parishad," party sources told news agency ANI. 

(With inputs from agencies)