Ajit Pawar resigns as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Who said what

New Delhi: Facing allegations of an irrigation scam, Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, today sent his resignation to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Mr Pawar belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP which co-governs Maharashtra with the Congress. Following Mr Pawar's resignation, all 20 NCP ministers also submitted their resignations to the state party chief  Madhukar Pichad.

Here are the reactions on Mr Pawar and the NCP ministers resigning:

Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister
"I am just an MLA now. I won't accept any ministry or post till I am cleared of all allegations... I have not done this, why should I suffer the allegations? But if I did not resign, people will think I am guilty and did not want to give up my political posts... We are growing, so people could be jealous of the NCP's rise."

Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief
"It is a good thing. He has shown courage and resigned. NCP will continue in the coalition government. This is an individual decision. The party supports his decision... This will not impact coalition ties in Maharashtra. That will continue. No question of destabilising government."

Praful Patel, senior NCP leader
"The truth should come before the people. The NCP wants this and so does Ajit Pawar. He isn't the present Irrigation Minister but people suggested that there was a big scam. This is far from the truth."

Majeed Memom, NCP leader
"The resignation is a token to what is happening and how Mr Ajit Pawar is being victimised. There is absolutely no defiance, whatever Mr Sharad Pawar has decided, Maharashtra ministers will follow."

Prakash Javadekar, BJP Spokesperson
"He should stick to his resignation. This should not be a part of pressure politics. He should face the charges and cooperate with the inquiry. The irrigation scam is a big scam. The country has a right to know where the money went."