Mahesh Tapase, spokesperson for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), expressed on Sunday that the oath taken by nine NCP MLAs as ministers in the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde does not have the official support of the party. This comes as a significant development, as Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister, and eight NCP MLAs took the oath as ministers in a government formed by the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier in the day.
Tapase conveyed this message through a video statement, in which he emphasized that the party workers, district presidents, taluka presidents, youth, and women are all aligned with the NCP’s national leader, Sharad Pawar. The announcement suggests a rift within the NCP regarding the decision to join the government led by the Shiv Sena and BJP.
The NCP, along with the Shiv Sena and the Congress, is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which came into power in Maharashtra after the 2019 state elections. However, the recent inclusion of NCP MLAs in the government formed by the Shiv Sena and BJP has raised concerns within the party itself.
Tapase’s statement indicates that there might be dissent within the NCP regarding the decision to align with the Shiv Sena and BJP. It highlights the divide between party members who support the alliance and those who oppose it. The party workers, district presidents, taluka presidents, as well as youth and women, are apparently standing with Sharad Pawar, the party’s national leader, suggesting that they do not endorse the decision made by some NCP MLAs to join the government.
The inclusion of Ajit Pawar as the deputy chief minister is particularly noteworthy. Ajit Pawar had previously made headlines in 2019 when he briefly joined hands with the BJP, which resulted in the collapse of an emerging alliance between the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress. However, he later returned to the NCP fold under the leadership of Sharad Pawar.
This recent development raises questions about the stability and unity of the MVA alliance in Maharashtra. The NCP’s decision to join forces with the Shiv Sena and BJP, despite the lack of official party support, suggests internal disagreements and potentially a fracture within the party.
It remains to be seen how the NCP will address this issue and handle the dissenting voices within its ranks. The political dynamics in Maharashtra may undergo further shifts as the various parties navigate these challenges and try to maintain stability in the government.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Sharad Pawar, a veteran politician known for his astute political maneuvering. His leadership and ability to manage internal conflicts within the NCP will play a crucial role in determining the future trajectory of the party and the MVA alliance in Maharashtra.
