‘No NCP MLA from Ajit Pawar side switching to Sharad Pawar faction’: Party chief Sunil Tatkare
Sharad Pawar to meet new Lok Sabha MPs from Maharashtra in Mumbai today; NCP-SP state president Jayant Patil refuses to comment on the possible shift of MLAs to his side
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No MLA from our side is going anywhere. Instead some MLAs from Sharad Pawar group are in touch with Congress," Tatkare said. (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)Maharashtra’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunil Tatkare claimed on Thursday that no MLA from his side is planning to switch to Sharad Pawar side. The statement comes amid speculations about the possible shift of MLAs from the ruling Ajit Pawar-led NCP towards Sharad Pawar’s faction following the latter’s impressive performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
“Today we have called all of the MLAs to discuss LS polls and reasons for winning more seats. No MLA from our side is going anywhere. Instead some MLAs from Sharad Pawar group are in touch with Congress,” Tatkare said.
Sources from the ruling NCP have said that the party will be pressing for state Cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. Tatkare, however, claimed that the decision will be taken by the CM and two Deputy CMs.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar is meeting the newly elected Lok Sabha MPs from Maharashtra in Mumbai. When asked about the possible shift of MLAs to his side, NCP-SP state president Jayant Patil said that he does not want to comment on the issue.
After the results came out on Tuesday, MLA Rohit Pawar of NCP faction under Sharad Pawar had claimed that around 12-13 NCP MLAs from the ruling Mahayuti alliance are in touch with his team and they may switch sides.
However, sources within the NCP-SP have said that 19 MLAs are in touch with Sharad Pawar’s side.
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