In the press conference following the swearing-in ceremony, Ajit Pawar, the newly sworn-in Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, asserted his claim over the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He stated that the decision was the result of extensive deliberations over several days and that the party stands united on this issue, as it was supported by a majority of members.
Made this decision after consulting with party leadership: Pawar
Pawar emphasised that the party leadership was fully informed and supportive of this decision. "This is our unanimous decision. We have been discussing this for a considerable period. We carefully assessed the political situation in the state and at the centre before deciding to join the government for the purpose of development. In a democracy, numbers matter. The party is with us, and our leaders stand united. We made this decision after consulting with the party leadership," Pawar stated, accompanied by senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Praful Patel, during the press conference held at the state guest house, Sahyadri, following the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan, where he, along with eight other party members, took the oath of office on Sunday.
"I resigned as the leader of the opposition on Friday," Pawar added.
Regarding the inclusion of diverse faces in the cabinet, including a woman, a tribal representative, and several individuals from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Pawar expressed, "We have joined the government to address issues concerning the youth, farmers, and women in the state. Additionally, we will work for the welfare of the tribal and OBC communities."
"We have taken into consideration the best interests of the state and the nation before joining the government. Most of the party workers, along with the MLAs, are also in support," he further added.
Ajit Pawar praises leadership of PM Modi
Pawar commended the leadership and developmental vision demonstrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that he and his colleagues made the decision to align with him. "PM Modi is a strong leader who commands respect even in foreign countries. Under his leadership, the country is progressing rapidly on the path of development. Hence, we decided to be on his side. The country is advancing in the right direction under his leadership," Pawar remarked.
"Even during the COVID pandemic, we remained in the government and worked for development. We focus on progress and avoid engaging in fruitless debates," Ajit Pawar said. He acknowledged that some legislators were unable to attend the ceremony in Mumbai but reassured that they would join soon.
He also stated that the NCP would participate in all future elections, particularly at the state and national levels, in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena. "We will contest all future elections as NCP members, using our party symbol. We will contest elections under the Clock symbol," he announced.
Justifying the decision, Ajit Pawar pointed out that the NCP had already supported the Shiv Sena in 2019. "If we could ally with the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP?" he questioned, adding that the NCP had previously supported the BJP-led government in Nagaland.
"This is the first time since 1984 that a strong leadership is leading the union government," he remarked, explaining that his party colleagues believed it was essential to align with a strong government. He further expressed his opinion that the era of single-party governments in the state has ended, thus justifying his decision to join the government.
Bhujbal, who was present alongside Pawar, emphasized how the government is working to protect the best interests of the OBC communities. He stated that this was a significant factor influencing his decision in favor of the alliance.
