Will contest elections as NCP with the same symbol: Maha Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Former Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar took an oath as Maharashtra Deputy CM on Sunday, July 2, in the presence of Maha CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. 

Along with him, other MLAs who joined him included, Chaggan bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Dharamaraobaba Atram, Aditi Sunil Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode, Anil Patil.

While talking to the media, Ajit Pawar spoke of the situation in Maharashtra saying that is not in good condition, hence they decided to come together and help in the development of the state.

"Also, we have been witnessing how PM Modi has been handling the country with good initiatives. We believe that this state needs Modi-like leadership and hence we decided to join Sena-BJP party." He said that he resigned from the post of leader of opposition on Friday.

"We took this decision for the well-being of Maharashtra and its people. We will work as NCP and will contest elections with the same symbol to strengthen the party."

महाराष्ट्रातील जनतेची इच्छा, राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षातील सहकाऱ्यांचा पाठिंबा, विश्वासाच्या बळावर आज राज्याचा उपमुख्यमंत्री म्हणून पद व गोपनीयतेची शपथ घेतली. माझ्या या पदाचा उपयोग जनतेच्या कल्याणासाठी, महाराष्ट्राच्या विकासासाठी होईल असा विश्वास देतो. pic.twitter.com/mvZ2oh7w6u

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) July 2, 2023

NCP working president Supriya Sule and other leaders tried dissuading Pawar to join Shiv Sena and BJP, but the latter did not budge. After a meeting, he immediately left for Raj Bhavan to take an oath. 

विधानसभेचे विरोधी पक्षनेते @AjitPawarSpeaks यांच्यासह राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षाच्या नऊ आमदारांनी आज महायुती सरकारमध्ये सामील होत राजभवनावर मंत्रिपदाची शपथ घेतली. महामहिम राज्यपाल रमेश बैस यांनी त्यांना राजभवनातील दरबार हॉलमध्ये पद व गोपनीयतेची शपथ दिली.

आज मंत्रिपदाची शपथ… pic.twitter.com/zqICdOY8dQ

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) July 2, 2023

"We have enough MLAs, and the party is supporting us. Maharashtra needs new leadership who can hear out farmers’ plight and work for the betterment of people in Maharashtra. We will see to it that there will be no issues in this triple engine. As we have seen, no single party can run the state, we have to team up."

When he was asked about Sharad Pawar, he said that he has got the backing of each and every leader of NCP.