Eknath Shinde also denied there were any differences within the party (File)
Days after Ajit Pawar's breakaway Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction joined the Maharashtra coalition government, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde late last night to discuss power sharing.
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In the meeting that lasted till 2 am, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis discussed a cabinet expansion after the entry of a third ally, Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday.
The discussions took place hours after the Shinde camp refuted reports that its MLAs had been uncomfortable with Ajit Pawar's entry into the ruling coalition. The party asserted that Eknath Shinde has no plans of stepping down as Chief Minister.
"We are not resignation givers but takers. His leadership is to take everyone along and be patient. Yesterday, all the MLAs, MPs have reposed faith in Eknath Shinde... all this (reports of discontent) is being done to malign Eknath Shinde," said Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant.
Eknath Shinde also denied any differences within the party. "With our government now made up of three parties, the strength of our MLAs is more than 200. Our government is only getting stronger. We have the support of PM Modi and Amit Shah," said the Chief Minister.
Some Shiv Sena legislators had reportedly raised concerns after the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the state government. Ajit Pawar's remark that he "wants to be the Chief Minister" had also created a flutter in political circles.
NCP veteran Sharad Pawar yesterday expelled 12 rebels -- including his nephew Ajit Pawar and former top aide Praful Patel. Sharad Pawar's national executive meet in Delhi drew a sharp response from the Ajit Pawar faction, which said it has "no legal sanctity".
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sharad Pawar hit out at his nephew's age barb, saying, "I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92." When asked if he felt "cheated" by his nephew. "No, the party is supreme and I am bound by the decision of the party," he said.
Ajit Pawar says his faction is the real NCP and has claimed the party name and symbol from the Election Commission. So far, he appears to have the support of 32 MLAs. Sharad Pawar has the support of 14. But he needs 36 MLAs, a two-thirds majority of the party's 53 legislators, before the poll body considers his claim.
Sharad Pawar has written to the election body, objecting to his nephew's claim for the party symbol. Sources indicated that Pawar Senior will take legal advice and confer with party leaders about the way ahead.
Even before their mutiny, the rebels had removed Sharad Pawar from the top post of the party he founded and led for over two decades. Sources in the Election Commission said according to the rebels' letter, they had named Ajit Pawar as party president on June 30 -- days before his shock move of crossing over to the ruling alliance and taking oath as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister.
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