Sharad Pawar’s party to join NDA but tussle continues for Maha Finance Ministry
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP is all set to join the BJP-led Maharashtra cabinet and the NDA Union cabinet in a few days, sources said here on Friday.
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP is all set to join the BJP-led Maharashtra cabinet and the NDA Union cabinet in a few days, sources said here on Friday.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that Sharad Pawar and his NCP would be welcome in the NDA, if he joins the BJP-led ruling alliance.
The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) submitted a memorandum to the President regarding the rising burden of fuel prices, the national examination system, and the alleged growing insecurity among minorities, among other issues.
According to the formula, the BJP will contest 11 seats, the Shinde-led Sena will contest 4 seats, and the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP will contest 2 seats.
Sources said that the BJP stand, which was discussed at a meeting of the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday evening, has not gone down well with her partymen.
There is a strong possibility that traditional seats will be swapped in some constituencies to resolve the seat distribution rift within the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance partners.
The development comes after the sidelining of senior leaders of the party like Sumil Tatkare and Praful Patel met Sharad Pawar a few days ago after they were sidelined within the party by Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar.
A secret informal meeting held recently by Sharad Pawar-led NCP leaders with other political figures at a Pune hotel revived the possibility of a merger between the two NCP factions: the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP. This followed the leak of a photograph from the meeting to social media on Thursday.
Fresh tension surfaced within Maharashtra’s NCP after organisational changes and Sunil Tatkare’s meeting with Sharad Pawar triggered speculation over possible defections.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar-led NCP National President Sunetra Pawar resigned her Rajya Sabha membership on Wednesday.
