INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party's senior leader Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs took oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led
Maharashtra government on Sunday.The oath-taking ceremony took place at Raj Bhawan in the presence of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath
Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.Maharashtra political developments: Live updatesAccording to sources, more than 40 MLAs
will be backing Ajit Pawar and extending support to the ruling Maharashtra government
Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who was present in the Raj Bhawan, said Ajit Pawar has resigned as the leader of opposition
(LoP) in the Lower House and he has accepted it.The development comes day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar appointed trusted lieutenant Praful
Patel and daughter Supriya Sule as working presidents of the party
Responding to the shocking turn of events, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar is
undeterred by the split in his party and can start afreshHere is the list of the 9 MLAs who joined the NDA government today:Ajit Pawar In
November 2019, after the assembly polls and the split between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena, Devendra Fadnavis and NCP's Ajit
Pawar were sworn in as CM and deputy CM, respectively, in an early morning ceremony in Raj Bhavan
The government lasted just 80 hours as Pawar was unable to cause a split in his party.This time Pawar has taken oath as the second deputy
minister of the state."We took a decision to come with the Shinde-Fadanvis government with almost all MLAs of NCP
We took oath and a few other ministers will be added in the next expansion," he said.Chhagan BhujbalChhagan Bhujbal joining the Eknath
Shinde government on Sunday is being seen as a shocker in Nationalist Congress Party circles as he is considered to be a staunch supporters
Bhujbal belongs to the Mali community and was previously a firebrand Shiv Sena leader before leaving it in 1991 to join the Congress
In 1999, when Pawar split from the Congress to form the NCP, Bhujbal, who was leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council at
the time, followed the Maratha strongman.The MLA from Yeola in Nashik has been deputy chief minister of the state earlier and was also the
first NCP state unit chief in 1999.Dilip Walse PatilAnother close aide of Sharad Pawar took oath as a minister in the Eknath Shinde
Walse Patil started his political career as the personal assistant (PA) of 83-year-old Sharad Pawar
He has served as speaker of the assembly, held the energy, excise and home portfolios and is a seven-time MLA from Ambegaon
constituency.Hasan MushrifHasan Mushrif, a prominent leader from MCP represents Kagal assembly seat in Kolhapur district
Mushrif has served as the minister of labour of the government of Maharashtra
He is facing an Enforcement Directorate probe into corruption allegations and premises connected to him have also been searched by the
Central agency earlier.Dhananjay MundeDhananjay Munde represents Parli assembly seat in Beed district of Maharashtra
He is is nephew of late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde and a close aide of Ajit Pawar.Aditi TatkareAditi Tatkare represents Shrivardhan in
Raigad district and is the daughter of Sunil Tatkare, NCP MP from Raigad
Incidentally, Aditi Tatkare had the maximum number of portfolios in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray, which fell in
She is also now the first woman minister in the Eknath Shinde government.Sanjay BandsodeSanjay Bandsode is MLA from Udgir in Latur district,
while Dharmarao Baba Atram represents Aheri constituency
Ramraje NimbalkarRamraje Naik is a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party
He was 13th Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to July 2022.Anil Bhaidas PatilAnil Patil is MLA from
Amalner and was the NCP whip in the assembly
(With agency inputs)WatchMaharashtra Politics: NCP leader Ajit Pawar joins Shinde govt; takes oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister
