Ajit Pawar: He revealed that discussions regarding the move were going on for a long time.
Newly-appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar today said he, along with other rebel Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs, joined the BJP and Shiv Sena-led government as they believe the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union government has been trying to take the country ahead for the last nine years. Maintaining that there was no split in the party, he said they would contest all the future elections on the NCP's name and symbol.
"In the last two and a half years when we were in power, we decided that we would focus on development...A lot of people will try to criticise us, we won't respond to them and focus on how to take the state ahead," he said.
A majority of NCP MLAs, and the entire party, has decided to be in the government, Mr Pawar stressed in a press conference after taking oath. "The NCP party has joined the government. The party name and symbol will be used by us to contest elections," he added, pre-empting possible disqualification of all rebel MLAs under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
But Ajit Pawar's claim that the whole of Nationalist Congress Party was backing his move to join the ruling alliance was hotly contested by the party. Senior leader Jayant Patil said, "Around seven to eight people used to say that the party should join BJP but they didn't have any support from the party".
"The NCP isn't supporting the BJP in any form. Those who didn't follow our orders and became ministers, we don't have anything to do with them," he added.
Mr Pawar has also revealed that discussions regarding the move were going on for a long time.
"Whatever has been happening in the country and in the state, we saw that and decided that development should be made a priority," he said.
There will be more cabinet expansion where others will be made ministers too, he added.
"With the will of the people of Maharashtra, the support of his colleagues in the Nationalist Congress Party, and the strength of faith, he took the oath of office and secrecy as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state today. I believe that my post will be used for the welfare of the people, for the development of Maharashtra," he tweeted along with pictures of him taking the oath of office.
Recently, in Nagaland, seven MLAs of NCP formed the government with the BJP, Mr Pawar pointed out in an attempt to justify his switch.
"Three and a half years ago, we formed MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray. If we can go with Shiv Sena, can't we go with the BJP? If we can do this in Nagaland, can't we do the same in Maharashtra for the development of our people?" he said.
The cabinet portfolios will be announced in a couple of days, and we will immediately start working on it, Mr Pawar said.
Some MLAs who couldn't reach Mumbai in time, and some are abroad, Mr Pawar claimed, adding that he is in touch with them as well, and they are supporting him.
The year-long Eknath Shinde cabinet in Maharashtra was expanded with the induction of nine ministers earlier in the day. State Governor Ramesh Bais administered the oath to NCP Leader Ajit Pawar as the second Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis.
Other NCP heavyweights like Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse-Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Dharmarao Baba Atram, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode, and Anil Patil, were also sworn in.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar were also present on stage.