NCP part of ruling and Oppn in Maharashtra and national levels

However, none of the sides are seen aggressively pursuing the matter and at present, the party is seen sharing stage with both sides.

It has been often seen that the NCP finds a way to be part of the government and a common factor across the three governments that were sworn-in since state elections in 2019 has been NCP. Ajit Pawar’s decision on July 2 to join the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government along with eight other MLAs that included Sharad Pawar’s long time associates Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil was initially seen as a final split in NCP. However, the happenings over the past one week where he gave audience to Ajit Pawar group at least twice have set the tongues wagging and many in the political circles are asking if this not another play of Senior Pawar.

On Tuesday afternoon, Sharad Pawar joined the meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru after doubts were raised over him going there. The next meeting of the Opposition parties will be held in Mumbai. The tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP – led by Sharad Pawar, aims to win maximum number of LS seats from Maharashtra out of 48. The state has the second largest LS seats after Uttar Pradesh.

On Tuesday evening, NCP’s Ajit Pawar and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel were seen shaking hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Delhi. The NCP was termed as an important partner in both the meetings.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah held a special meeting with Pawar and Patel after the NDA’s meeting. According to sources, the NCP leaders have made the promise of ensuring victory on maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2024 general elections.

In state, nine NCP ministers are part of the state government with Ajit Pawar taking over the finance portfolio. The NCP ministers are seen defending the state government as well as central government on issues related to various schemes. The NCP MLAs are also seen raising questions on the issues cornering the state government and even protesting on the staircase of the legislative building. The NCP MLAs supporting Sharad Pawar are sitting on opposition benches. Similar scenes can be witnessed in the legislative council.

“We are working as decided by our leader Sharad Pawar. We do not want to comment on anyone else or any group. We are in opposition and we will continue to work as an opposition,” said Jitendra Awhad, MLA supporting Sharad Pawar. Sunil Tatkare, state president of the party appointed by Ajit Pawar said on Tuesday that he won’t like to comment on such issues at present.

Ajit Pawar group MLAs twice visited Sharad Pawar and touched his feet in last four days. After the meeting Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel had said that they requested him (Sharad) to find a way to keep party united to which the veteran politician did not reply.