As two MLAs come out in support of Ajit Pawar, NCP tries to avert split

Mumbai: Amid reports of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar's growing proximity with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, two NCP MLAs have come out in his support, saying they support any decision (read joining the BJP alliance) he takes . The move is seen as Ajit's pressure tactics to force party leadership (Sharad Pawar) to consider joining the BJP- Shinde coalition.

Both the NCP and the Pawar family seem to be split on Ajit holding talks with the BJP.

Sources in NCP said that Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are not happy with Ajit. The NCP leadership is also miffed at a former Lok Sabha MP for helping facilitate Ajit's talks with the BJP. The NCP leadership is, however, cautious as any deal between Ajit and BJP could mean a Shiv Sena-like split in the party. "If the party splits like the Sena, it could pose problems for Sharad Pawar, whereas if the NCP joins the government with his blessings, he could maintain some semblance of authority," said a source within the NCP.


On Monday, on being asked about Ajit joining the BJP, Supriya Sule said: " I don't know about it as I don't gossip. I have a lot of responsibilities. I live for the moment."

On statements by BJP leaders that they would welcome a leader like Ajit Pawar into the party, she said, "Naturally, any party would welcome a good and an able leader."

Anna Bansode, NCP MLA from Pimpri, and Manikrao Kokate from Sinnar in Nashik have pledged their support to 'whatever' decision Ajit Pawar takes.

Ajit Pawar on Monday didn't attend a NCP farmers' event at Purandar in Pune. NCP leaders said Ajit has been taking the time off to talk to NCP MLAs about the benefits of joining the BJP coalition.

However, later in the day Ajit Pawar dismissed as false the reports that he has called a meeting of MLAs on Tuesday. He also said he had no scheduled events to attend on Monday amid reports that he had called off his engagements in Pune.

Meanwhile, state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that whoever accepts the ideology of the BJP is welcome in the party. "The present month is all about inductions, we will be inducting several people in our party this month," said Bawankule. The state BJP chief and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar are in Delhi, further fuelling speculation about an alliance with NCP.

Sources in the BJP said the deal with the NCP has not yet been sealed and talks with Ajit are still on and they were watching the developments in the NCP.

Shinde Camp's Stand on Ajit
The Shinde camp, while referring to reports of Ajit Pawar becoming the chief minister in case Eknath Shinde and 15 other MLAs are disqualified, said that their case in the Supreme Court is strong and that the Shinde group MLAs would not work under Ajit Pawar. They were referring to reports that Ajit Pawar would join the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition as CM.