MUMBAI: The leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction, which split from the NCP and joined the Shinde-BJP government, could not enter the new party office. The leaders who reached the Rashtravadi Bhawan near the Secretariat in the morning found the office locked. Not only is the office locked, but the key is reportedly missing. As they did not get the keys, the rebel leaders sat on chairs outside the office. Some of the youth leaders tried to break the lock from the outside. It is reported that all the rooms inside were locked when they broke the lock and entered. Ajit Pawar opened the new party office amid the struggle for control of the party. The new party office is the bungalow where Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray's confidant Ambadas Danve lived.

Meanwhile, National President Sharad Pawar, who expelled the rebels, announced a state tour seeking public support. Appointments and dismissals on both sides took place yesterday. Sharad Pawar's party filed a complaint to Speaker Rahul Narvekar demanding the disqualification of all the 9 people who joined the cabinet yesterday.MPs Praful Patel and Sunil Dattatray Tatkare were expelled from the party for alleged anti-party activities. The party ranks have also approached the Election Commission showing that the party members are with them. State President Jayant Patil has been appointed as Chief Whip and Jitendra Awhad as the Leader of the Opposition.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar is relieved that MP Amol Kolhe, who was on the opposition side, had returned. Efforts are also being made to persuade the MLAs who are with Ajith Pawar. Kolhe tweeted that he came back in the name of conscience.