Maharashtra politics: NCP, Congress, UBT Shiv Sena call the triple engine government a 'circus'

Mumbai: Operation Lotus was once again successful in Maharashtra with Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar joining the Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janta Party government.

Sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Pawar along with nine members of Legislative Assembly is a part of the government.

No official support of NCP

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said the oath taken by nine NCP MLAs as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government does not have official support of the party.

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister while eight MLAs of the party took oath as ministers in the government led by the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a video message, Tapase said NCP's party workers, district president, taluka president, youth and women are with party's national leader Sharad Pawar. "The oath-taking ceremony in Maharashtra was part of Operation Lotus and it has no official support of NCP. Those who took oath, it is their personal decision and not that of the NCP," he said.

End of Eknath Shinde government

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "Induction of NCP leader Ajit Pawar as deputy chief minister in the Maharashtra government was the beginning of the process of Eknath Shinde losing his chief minister's post. He also said the NCP joining the government and the rebellion in the party was not a political earthquake.

"This development should not be seen as (shaping up of a) triple engine (government). One of the two engines is going to fail," he said.

When asked whether NCP chief Sharad Pawar was aware of this development, Raut said, "He had all the information about it. But you should ask BJP leaders who used to criticise NCP leaders everyday over corruption," he said.

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar is undeterred by the split in his party and can start afresh.

In a tweet, Raut said, "I just spoke with NCP Sharad Pawar. He said he is firm and people's support is behind us. We can make a fresh start with Uddhav Thackeray."

Raut said people of Maharashtra will not tolerate such a "circus", an apparent reference to government formation through vertical splits in political parties, for long.

"Some people seem to be determined to completely spoil Maharashtra's politics. Let them proceed on their chosen path," said Raut.

Talking to reporters, Raut claimed that Maharashtra would soon get a new chief minister.

"This (oath-taking ceremony) is the start of Eknath Shinde losing his chief minister's post. His MLAs will be disqualified as members of the House. In order to continue being in power even after it, Ajit Pawar and the NCP MLAs have joined the government," Raut said.

Congress reacts

"This was bound to happen. The BJP was well aware that if elections are held today in Maharashtra, they will have the same fate as Karnataka. They had no other option left rather than to break the party (NCP). People of Maharashtra have identified the real face of the BJP, they will remove it from power in next elections," says Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant.

It (NCP's Ajit Pawar joining Maharashtra government) was expected but happened unexpectedly. The kind of politics happening at present in Maharashtra never happened before," says Congress MLA Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar.

Fear of ED

Is it due to fear of ED: Shivsena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey on Ajit Pawar joining Shinde government. The NCP ministers sworn in are allegedly under the radar of ED. Praful Patel against whom there are alleged cases is claimed to have negotiated with the BJP, he said.

Elections to the 288-member state Assembly are due next year

The political development comes a year after a revolt led by Shinde against the Shiv Sena (then undivided) led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

On June 30, 2022, Shinde was sworn in as the CM with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the deputy CM.