Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar removed as NCP CLP leader
What's the story
In the latest development in the Maharashtra coup, Nationalist Congress Party's Ajit Pawar was removed as the party's legislative party leader. Earlier today, Pawar was sworn-in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra with Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis taking oath as the CM for a second term. Pawar allegedly deceived members of his party to join hands with the BJP. Here's more.
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NCP MLAs signatures taken deceptively, alleges party leader
According to a Times Now alert, Ajit has been removed as the party's CLP leader. Earlier today, BJP's Girish Mahajan claimed the saffron party has the support of all NCP MLAs with Ajit's support, since he's the legislative party leader. NCP leader Nawak Malik then alleged that signatures of attendance from party MLAs were "misused as a basis for the oath."
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Party and family split: Supriya Sule
In fact, senior NCP leader and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule also shared a WhatsApp status on Saturday which read, "Party and family split." According to ANI, Sule's office has confirmed this as her statement.
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NCP doesn't support Ajit's decision: Sharad Pawar
Soon after Ajit took oath, Sharad Pawar claimed Ajit acted independently and the NCP does not "support or endorse this decision of his." Senior NCP leader Praful Patel also added, "This is not NCP's decision and does not have Sharad Pawar saheb's support." Separately, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi expressed shock over the latest development, confessing he "thought it was fake news."
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What happened in Maharashtra till now?
The political climate in Maharashtra intensified after the pre-poll alliance of BJP and Sena fell apart. The alliance crumbled over debates of power-sharing after they won a majority in the Maharashtra polls last month. Since the alliance fell apart, no party was able to prove a majority in the Assembly. Hence, on November 12, President's rule was imposed in the state, and revoked today.