Maharashtra News: Whatever happened is painful, says Supriya Sule

NCP leader Jitendra Awhad reached Maharashtra speaker's office to hand over his appointment letter.

We have filed a disqualification petition to the speaker of the assembly and we will send hard documents as soon as possible. This disqualification petition was filed against 9 leaders. They didn't inform anyone that they are leaving the party which is against NCP. We have also written a letter to the election commission of India. We are not accepting this, these 9 leaders didn't inform us before doing this (leaving the party). We believe most of the MLAs will come back to NCP and we will accept them again: NCP leader Jayant Patil

We call them ICE (Income tax, CBI & ED). Most of the time they (National agencies) conduct inquiries of opposition leaders. I never blame those officers who are working there but it was happening from the other side, I call these things ICE: NCP MP Supriya Sule takes jibe on the national investigation agencies

BJP is 24×7 in election mood...BJP, which called the NCP a corrupt party, are now welcoming our leaders. How? I don’t want to comment on who will be the candidates of BJP. I will concentrate on my work rather than peeking inside others' life...I am always with NCP and truth, I face these types of challenges every day. This one (Ajit Pawar's revolt) is a new challenge for me: NCP MP Supriya Sule

Thoughts and hate are different things, NCP never had hate inside the party or any misunderstanding, Ajit Pawar had different thoughts and we have different ones. We respect our all MLAs. I always speak with party workers & leaders, I spoke with them yesterday also and tomorrow also I will speak with them (Party leaders & members): NCP MP Supriya Sule

Whatever happened is painful. Sharad Pawar treated everyone like a family and he is our senior leader, I don't think speaking after his statement will be correct. His response was We are living in a democratic country where everyone has the right to speak for themselves and keep their points. Ajit Pawar's move is his own decision and point of view. My relationship with Ajit Pawar will not change, he will always remain my elder brother. We will rebuild the party: NCP MP Supriya Sule on Ajit Pawar's revolt

RJD claims nine NCP legislators joined Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra govt succumbing to pressure of central probe agencies, says this is 'living example' of PM Modi's politics and BJP's priority.

Maharashtra government now a three-wheeler, says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

In a startling twist of events within the Maharashtra government, Ajit Pawar's decision to break away from the Nationalist Congress Party and assume the role of deputy chief minister on Sunday has created a major political upheaval. Reacting to this development, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel humorously remarked that the government, which was once described as a "double-engine," has now transformed into a "triple-engine" setup. He quipped that it seems like the current administration is no longer effectively running the show and compared it to a three-wheeler, akin to an auto-rickshaw, symbolizing the lack of stability and coherence. Read more here

Our party has not supported the decision taken by Ajit Pawar, it is his personal decision. He needs to remember one thing, NCP belongs to Sharad Pawar. This party was built and brought to this level by him. All those who betrayed us today got their face because of Sharad Pawar. If they think that they can wipe out him and ruin NCP, they're making a mistake: Clyde Crasto, national spokesperson, NCP

PM Modi biggest patron of corruption: AAP after Ajit Pawar joins Shinde govt in Maharashtra

The AAP on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the "biggest patron of corruption", after NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight others joined the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra. The AAP national convenor and Delhi chief minister asked Modi if he was not "ashamed" of seeing those who were called "corrupt" being inducted into the Shiv Sena-BJP government. (PTI)

BJP wants to eliminate opposition using money power, central agencies: Ashok Gehlot on Maharashtra politics

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday attacked BJP over the major reshuffle in Maharashtra politics, alleging the party of trying to "eliminate" the opposition on the basis of money power and central agencies.

Earlier on Sunday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s senior leader Ajit Pawar joined Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra and took oath as the deputy chief minister of the state.

"The political developments that have taken place in Maharashtra today show that the BJP wants to eliminate the opposition parties on the basis of money power and central agencies. It is highly condemnable," Gehlot said in a tweet. (ANI)

Maharashtra political upheaval: BJP's 'washing machine' has resumed operation, say opposition parties

Opposition parties on Sunday lashed out at the BJP after NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight others were inducted into the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, saying the ruling party's "washing machine" has resumed its operation to clean tainted leaders and it was an "ED-facilitated power grab".

Ajit Pawar, who split the NCP and took oath as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, said his party decided to join the BJP-Shiv Sena government for the development of the country and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Raising the corruption allegations faced by the newly inducted ministers, the opposition parties said the BJP can no longer talk about fighting corruption after joining hands with them and alleged that democracy is being "disrobed" in Maharashtra. (PTI)

NCP workers spraying black paint on photos of those MLAs who joined the Eknath Shinde-led cabinet along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

NCP working president Supriya Sule meets party workers after Ajit Pawar and nine MLAs joined Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra cabinet.

BJP is breaking opposition parties, they're making and breaking govts...the people who were accused of corruption by PM Modi, took oath today that means either those claims were wrong or BJP like corrupt people when they join the party: Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray Faction MP on Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar induction: Maharashtra CM mocks those predicting his govt's fall, says they will be disappointed

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday ridiculed people who used to routinely predict the fall of his government by wondering which astrologer they were consulting, his comments coming on a day when Ajit Pawar joined it along with eight other NCP MLAs.

Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister after he managed to bring about a vertical split in the Nationalist Congress Party.

"From day one, opposition parties have been predicting the fall of the state government. Now, they must be very disappointed. I wonder which astrologer is giving them such advice," he said. (PTI)

NCP to hold meeting on July 5 to discuss developments post-induction of 9 party MLAs in Shinde govt

In the wake of nine NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, joining the Eknath Shinde government, party chief Sharad Pawar has convened a meeting on July 5 in Mumbai to discuss the developments and the future course of action, its state unit chief Jayant Patil said on Sunday. (PTI)

CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi has Spoken to Sharad Pawar over phone and discussed the situation and extended support to him, earlier Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi spoke to Sharad Pawar: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal to ANI

BJP doesn't believe in the strength of people; it believes in sabotaging governments: JD(U)'s Lalan Singh

Over 40 NCP MLAs, bulk of MLCs supporting Ajit Pawar, as per letter given to Maharashtra governor.

Hours after a section of NCP legislators in Maharashtra joined the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis govt, Kerala minister and senior NCP leader A K Saseendran said the party's Kerala unit stands with Sharad Pawar.

Congress calls Maharashtra developments 'disrobing of democracy', taunts BJP, PM over NCP-corruption talk

The Maharashtra Congress on Sunday said the swearing in of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar as deputy chief minister and eight of his colleagues as ministers in the Eknath Shinde government was "disrobing of democracy" by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole slammed the BJP for its "power-hungry politics".

"The BJP has an alliance with Ajit Pawar whose party was accused of corruption by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Patole said, adding that he wondered if the BJP was playing musical chairs in anticipation of Shinde and several of his MLAs being disqualified. (PTI)

We have sent Jitendra Awhad's name as chief whip, and have sent a letter on behalf of the NCP party to the speaker of the assembly: NCP leader Jayant Patil

JD(U) blames BJP for NCP split, claims it will have no impact beyond Maharashtra

The JD(U) on Sunday while squarely blaming the BJP for the crossover of Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction in Maharashtra, said the move will have no impact on opposition unity nationally.

Dubbing the episode as “cowardly and shameful”, JD(U) chief spokesperson and special advisor K C Tyagi maintained the development in Maharashtra smacked of “fear” instilled by the party's supreme leader, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, into the BJP by uniting the opposition.

Tyagi also alleged that the MLAs of NCP, who have sided with Ajit Pawar, were "intimidated through misuse of central investigating agencies", but insisted the development in the western state will have no impact nationally. (PTI)

NCP numbers game: Amid claims of majority support by Ajit Pawar camp, Awhad says wait for Sharad Pawar's move

Newly-appointed Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Jitendra Awhad on Sunday said the number of Nationalist Congress Party MLAs with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar will be clear once party supremo Sharad Pawar starts "calling up" legislators.

Awhad, who was appointed LoP in the Assembly after incumbent LoP Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde government as deputy chief minister on Sunday, also said the families of several MLAs have called party leaders to voice their opposition to the developments of the day. (PTI)

BJP's washing machine in action: AAP's Atishi on Ajit Pawar becoming Maharashtra deputy CM

After NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath as the new deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Atishi on Sunday said that it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "washing machine" in action.

"Whoever facing corruption charges, facing different cases, they are definitely afraid of the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and ED (Enforcement Directorate). Such people continuously go to BJP and get themselves cleaned in the BJP's washing machine. Those who got the call of ED, CBI joined BJP," she told ANI.

BJP is afraid of Opposition alliance: DMK's TKS Elangovan on Ajit Pawar being made deputy CM

BJP should be blamed for shameful, cowardly development in Maharashtra: JD(U)

Our agenda is to deliver justice, all-round development to people of Maharashtra: CM Eknath Shinde

BJP can't talk about fighting corruption: TMC's Babul Supriyo on Maharashtra upheaval

After inducting "corrupt men" as ministers in Maharashtra, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot talk about fighting corruption, senior TMC leader Babul Supriyo said on Sunday. Calling the BJP hypocrite in response to the political upheaval in the western state, Supriyo, a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, said leaders under the scanner of ED for corruption have been put into a "washing machine" manufactured by the BJP to remove their stains and blemishes. (PTI)

We must wait and watch what effect it would have on Maharashtra and the country's politic: D Raja, national gen secy of CPI

Country progressing under PM Modi's leadership, thought to support development: Ajit Pawar after joining Maharashtra govt

After engineering a split in the Nationalist Congress Party and extending support to the NDA government in Maharashtra, the new deputy chief minister of the Eknath Shinde government, Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that the country was progressing under PM Modi's leadership adding that they should support development.

"Today, we have decided to support the Maharashtra government and took oath as ministers. There will be a discussion on the portfolios later. Considering all aspects at the national level, we thought that we should support development," Ajit Pawar said in a press briefing. (ANI)

This is not a new govt, Shiv Sena and BJP govt were functioning under PM Modi's leadership. Development work was going on and Ajit Pawar who believed in the development work, supported and joined the govt. I welcome him and his MLAs wholeheartedly. He has a lot of MPs and MLAs which will definitely help in the development of Maharashtra. This double-engine govt now will run at the speed of a bullet train. MVA is broken. Some people were talking about googly and clean bowled, but everyone saw today who was clean bowled, it's a hit wicket: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde after the swearing-in ceremony of NCP leaders

I am not bothered that people have left, but I am worried for their future: Sharad Pawar

Those who violated party line and took oath, decision has to be taken on them: Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar

We will not fight over anyone saying anything by taking NCP's name; we will go to people: Sharad Pawar

My endeavour will be to travel as much as I can within state and country and build relations with people: Sharad Pawar

This is robbery, not ‘googly’, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar joining NDA govt

Corruption allegations were made against some of our colleagues, now, they want those same colleagues in the govt, says NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

I have faith in people of Maharashtra, especially youth: Sharad Pawar

Today's episode must be new for others, but not for me: Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar's rebellion

It is the right of the speaker to decide about the leader of the Opposition. In the next two-three days, we will sit with Congress and Uddhav Thackeray to access the situation. Our main strength is the common people, they have elected us: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar