Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel has made claims that after the Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed last year, out of 53 party MLAs in the state, 51 of them suggested party chief Sharad Pawar join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party in power.
Praful Patel switched to Ajit Pawar's side when the latter joined the Eknath Shinde government on July 2 as the deputy chief minister. Reportedly during an interview, Patel remarked, "If the NCP can form government with the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP".
Along with Pawar, eight other ministers joined the coalition government as ministers on Sunday and two of them include Chhagan Bhujpal and Hasan Mushrif.
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The MVA government led by Uddhav Thackery collapsed in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde revolted and later on formed a government with the backing of BJP and Devendra Fadnavis as a deputy chief minister.
Praful Patel on NCP split
Praful Patel reportedly said, "There were discussions on this issue, but no decision was arrived at. Now a shape has been given. The decision has been taken as a party, not by me or Ajit Pawar individually."
He further claimed that Jayant Patil was also one of the NCP leaders among the 51 who were for the idea of a BJP alliance. He said two people who were not present during this suggestion among the MLAs were Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik.
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He also told the media, "The NCP ministers wrote a letter to Sharad Pawar saying the party shouldn't stay out of power. There is no harm in exploring the possibility of joining the government."
Asked why the step to join the government was not taken, Patel said, "No decision was arrived at and the other side may have felt we were not required."
Patel also said despite being so close to Sharad Pawar, he was not aware of the latter deciding to quit as party chief (a few months back).
''I don't think Sharad Pawar will be upset with me. I will face whatever feelings he has for me," he said.
This comes a day after Sharad Pawar tweeted about removing Praful Patel from the Register of Members of the NCP Party for 'anti-party activities'.
Asked about Jayant Patil moving a petition before Assembly Speaker seeking disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who joined the ruling alliance, Patel said there have been no internal elections in the party.
"Jayant Patil has not been elected as the state party president, and there is no sanctity to decisions taken by him," he claimed.
On Sharad Pawar sacking him from the party, Patel said he does not wish to comment on the NCP chief's action.
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Asked if he will be part of the Union cabinet, Patel said nothing has been decided as of now.
"We are with them now. May be later,'' he said.
(With PTI inputs)
