Maharashtra Government live updates: Decided to join Maha govt for development of country, says Dy CM Ajit Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party's senior leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on July 2, 2023. 

Shortly after convening an urgent meeting of NCP MLAs on Sunday, he arrived at the Raj Bhawan. Eknath Shinde, the chief minister, also arrived at the Raj Bhawan. Ajit Pawar allegedly felt unhappy after being denied the position of state unit chief. He had already volunteered to step down as leader of the opposition in order to take on organisational responsibility.

Maharashtra Government live updates:

4:20 pm: Already knew: Sanjay Raut after Ajit Pawar joins hand with Maha govt 

"We already knew that this was going to happen. Eknath Shinde and the 16 MLAs that went with him will be disqualified. Maharashtra will get another CM in a few days," Uddhav Thackeray Faction MP Sanjay Raut on Ajit Pawar taking oath as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra

4.15 pm: All MLAs are with me, says Ajit Pawar

"We have all the numbers, all MLAs are with me. We are here as a party. We have informed all seniors also. The majority is given importance in a democracy. Our party is 24 years old and young leadership should come forward," Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

4:00 pm: Ajit Pawar praises PM Modi's leadership

'We decided to join Maharashtra govt to support the development of country', Dy CM Ajit Pawar after supporting Maha govt

3:15 pm: 9 NCP leaders join Shinde government

A total of 9 NCP leaders took oath as Maharashtra ministers after Ajit Pawar and other party leaders joined the NDA government in Maharashtra. 

2:44 pm: ​Ajit Pawar was sidelined by the NCP 
One such instance was recorded when NCP chief Sharad Pawar revealed his intention to quit. Many senior party leaders put out names to fill Sharad Pawar's shoes as a series of dramatic and emotional events progressed, with his daughter and MP for Baramati Supriya Sule emerging as the front-runner. Ajit Pawar, who had backed his uncle's choice and was regarded as the successor presumptive, was left out of the conversation. When Sharad Pawar's resignation was retracted and a press conference was held to announce it, he was not present.

2:48 pm: Sharad Pawar's comments 
Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said on Thursday that the two parties had spoken following the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. According to Pawar, this action was a calculated "googly" to reveal the BJP's desire for power and its willingness to work with anyone to take over the state.

2:50 pm: Ajit Pawar backed by 43 out of 53 NCP MlAs
As Maharashtra Ministers, NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, and Praful Patel also took the oath of office. 43 out of the 53 NCP MLAs back Ajit Pawar, according to party sources.

2:54 pm: Maharashtra Ministers
NCP leader Dhananjay Munde takes oath as Maharashtra Minister with Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif