Ajit's expulsion as NCP's legislative party leader, Jayant Patil's passing

(By Delegation) Mumbai, Ta. November 23, 2019, Saturday

Sharad Pawar, who was shaken after the BJP allegedly formed the government with the support of the NCP overnight in Maharashtra overnight, held a press conference with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in the morning and the NCP explicitly supported the BJP.

He claimed that only the Mahavikas coalition government would be formed in Maharashtra. He called a meeting of NCP legislative party members that evening. At this meeting, it was decided to expel nephew Ajit Pawar as the leader of the assembly party and replace Jayant Patil in his place.

The other morning, eight of the NCP MLAs who were said to have attended the swearing-in ceremony with Ajit Pawar were present at the party meeting that evening. Ajit Pawar was said to have called the legislators at the house of NCP leader Dhananjay Munde that night.

The Dhananjay Munde was also welcomed by the party's MLAs and activists who were present at the NCP meeting that evening. Sharad Pawar convened a meeting of 54 MLAs in Maharashtra amid political upheavals, out of which 48 MLAs had arrived to attend the meeting.

At first there were reports that nine rebel MLAs were going to Delhi, but two of them were returning to Sharad Pawar. Now only five MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, did not attend the meeting. They may be prosecuted under defamation law.

Meanwhile, with the support of the NCP in the early morning, the news of the formation of the BJP government was agitated. However, Sharad Pawar, while holding a press conference with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, made it clear that the NCP did not support the BJP. He said that Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP was his own and the NCP is against the BJP.

Interestingly, three of the NCP MLAs who accompanied Ajit Pawar were present with Sharad Pawar in the afternoon. One of them, MLA Rajendra Singh, said that Ajit Pawar had called me at his residence in the morning.

After that, Raj Bhavan was taken saying that he was going to meet a leader. There was a room. I did not know why Rajbhavan was brought. I had no idea there would be an oath-taking program. I am with Sharad Pawar and NCP.

Second MLAs Sandeep Kshirsagar and Sunil Bhusara also alleged that they were taken to the swearing-in ceremony without their knowledge. Now they are back. Looking forward to Sharad Pawar.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, "I do not know that Ajit Pawar has erupted. Eleven NCP MLAs went to Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, the party president, Uddhav Thackeray, said that the BJP had formed an overnight government by stealing secrets.

We were holding meetings in front of the people and discussing the direction of the Shiv Sena-Congress and the NCP to form the Mahavikas Aghadi government. The BJP does not employ a democratic system. We will form a government. The BJP cannot win a majority.

Three members of the NCP, along with BJP Legislative Council member Prasad Lad, were taken to Delhi on a plane to a safe place, sources said. When Ajit Pawar did not leave his place of residence. He said that police had been set up to safeguard him at his residence. Thus the air of the rebel Ajit Pawar was fired.