When he stepped down as deputy chief minister in a short-lived BJP government in Maharashtra on Tuesday, serious questions were asked about the political future of NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Reports speculated that Ajit, the nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, was staring at political oblivion for his perceived attempt to split the NCP and align with the BJP.
But now it seems Ajit Pawar's status as the NCP's 'face' in Maharashtra politics has been restored. Numerous media reports on Thursday claimed Ajit Pawar was likely to be the deputy chief minister in the new coalition government of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, led by Uddhav Thackeray, but would not be sworn in immediately.
An NCP source told PTI that party leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, state chief of the Maharashtra Congress, would be sworn in with Thackeray on Thursday.
"Bhujbal and Patil are expected to be sworn in as ministers from the NCP. Ajit Dada is likely to be the deputy CM. But, he is unlikely to take oath today," the NCP source told PTI.
NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday had said one or two MLAs each from his party, the Shiv Sena and the Congress will be sworn in as ministers at the ceremony.
On Wednesday, the NCP seemed to signal the immediate political 'rehabilitation of Ajit Pawar, when Supriya Sule, the daughter of Ajit Pawar, hugged him as the newly elected MLAs took oath in the Assembly.
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Ajit Pawar told mediapersons he had always been in the NCP on Wednesday and emphasised he had not been expelled.
On Wednesday, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik had told mediapersons that Sharad Pawar had "forgiven" Ajit Pawar after the latter admitted to his "mistake" in siding with the BJP and apologised. Malik also revealed the role of Ajit in the new government would be decided soon. Ajit Pawar was the deputy chief minister in the Congress-NCP government between 2010 to 2014.
If confirmed, this would be Ajit Pawar's third stint as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.