Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and a prominent member of the BJP, on Monday rejected the assertion made by Congressman Prithviraj Chavan that Ajit Pawar would succeed Eknath Shinde as chief minister in August.
Ajit Pawar was informed of this at the talks that took place before to July 2, according to Mr. Fadnavis, who also claimed that Ajit Pawar is aware that he will not be appointed chief minister.
In response to Mr. Chavan’s assertion that prominent NCP figure Ajit Pawar, a member of the state government, will be named chief minister around August 10, Mr. Fadnavis stated it would be the only change to the Cabinet by that time.
“As a leader of the single largest party in ‘Mahayuti’ (grand alliance), I am officially telling you that Ajit Pawar will not become the chief minister of Maharashtra,” Mr Fadnavis told reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan.
When meetings of ‘Mahayuti’ took place (before the July 2 induction of the NCP faction in the government), Ajit Pawar was given a clear picture that he would not get the post of chief minister, the BJP leader said.
He emphasised that Eknath Shinde will continue to serve as Chief Minister and that nothing would change.
Ajit Pawar, according to Mr. Fadnavis, was given a detailed explanation of the power-sharing arrangement and concurred with it.
“He (Ajit) not only agreed to it but also made it clear in his speech that there is no discussion on changing the guard in Maharashtra,” he said.
Mr Fadnavis snubbed Prithviraj Chavan for allegedly peddling rumours.
“They should stop confusing people about ‘Mahayuti’. Leaders are not confused but party workers do get perplexed. People like Prithviraj Chavan are spreading rumours. If something is going to happen by August 10, it would be the expansion of the state Cabinet. The CM will take a call on it,” he said.
On July 2, Ajit Pawar and eight Nationalist Congress Party legislators joined the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition. The MLAs were sworn in as ministers as Ajit Pawar took the oath of office as deputy chief minister. Later, Sharad Pawar’s nephew received the crucial finance department.
Ajit Pawar’s election to the administration, according to Mr. Shinde, posed no threat to him.
