Ajit Pawar reviews NCP's Lok Sabha performance, Fadnavis to submit resignation

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met NCP leaders to assess the Lok Sabha election results and party's performance. The meeting was held at his official residence in Mumbai.

Senior leaders including working president Praful Patel were present. Ajith-led NCP contested four Lok Sabha seats in the state but managed to win only in Raigad. Ajith's wife Sunetra Pawar lost to Sharad Pawar's daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule in Baramati where the Pawar family clashed. The meeting was called yesterday in a situation where the party has suffered such a collapse. The setback in the Lok Sabha polls is a big shock when the assembly polls are due to be held in the state in six months. In July last year, Ajith's faction joined BJP by splitting NCP.

Leaders to Sharad side?

Meanwhile, there were reports that 10-15 MLAs of Ajit Pawar's NCP faction were associated with Sharad Pawar's faction. State president of NCP (Sharad wing) Jayant Patil said that many leaders have contacted them. It is also reported that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may soon expand the cabinet amid political uncertainty in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had expressed his willingness to resign after the BJP's picket setback in the elections. However, Shinde is of the position that the defeat is the joint responsibility of the three parties, BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, as they contested as an alliance. Fadnavis tendered his resignation after the number of BJP MPs in the state reduced from 23 to nine.