According to Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel, 51 of the party’s 53 MLAs suggested to Sharad Pawar that when the MVA government in Maharashtra fell up last year, the option of working with the BJP should be investigated.
In an interview with Marathi news outlet Zed 24 Taas, Patel, who has now joined Ajit Pawar’s side, said that if the NCP can form government with the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP.
To become deputy chief minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP administration, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar spearheaded a vertical split in the party on Sunday, startling his uncle Sharad Pawar, who formed the organisation 24 years ago after leaving the Congress.
Eight more NCP MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, were sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde government in addition to Ajit Pawar.
The Shiv Sena (then undivided), NCP, and Congress coalition headed by Uddhav Thackeray and known as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) fell in June of last year after a Shinde-led uprising.
Later, with the help of the BJP, Shinde was elected chief minister.
Patel said that last year, internal deliberations over joining the BJP alliance had occurred. The MLAs had a debate, he said.
“Discussions were held on this matter, but no decision was made. A shape has now been shown. The choice was made by the party, not by Ajit Pawar or myself alone, the Rajya Sabha member stated.
Additionally, he said that 51 MLAs, including Jayant Patil, encouraged Sharad Pawar to consider running for office. He stated that only Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh were absent.
“The NCP ministers urged Sharad Pawar in a letter that the party shouldn’t remain in opposition. Investigating the prospect of working for the government is not harmful, he added.
When questioned about why no action was done to join the government, Patel said, “No decision was reached and the other side may have felt we were not required.”
Sharad Pawar’s decision to step down as party leader (a few months ago), Patel said, surprised him considering their close proximity.
Sharad Pawar won’t be angry with me, I believe. He said, “I’ll deal with any emotions he has for me.
When questioned about Jayant Patil’s plea to the Assembly Speaker asking that Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who joined the governing coalition be disqualified, Patel said that the party has not had any internal elections.
“Jayant Patil has not been elected the state party president, and there is no sanctity to decisions taken by him,” he said.
When asked about Sharad Pawar’s decision to exclude him from the party, Patel stated he did not want to respond.
When asked whether he will join the Union cabinet, Patel said that nothing had been determined at this time.
We are now with them. Perhaps later,” he said.
