We will contest elections in the name of NCP only: Maha Dy CM Ajit Pawar

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar said that they will contest elections as NCP party only. The senior leader clarified in a press conference that the MLAs and him have supported the Shinde government as NCP. «Several people will criticise now a bit.

We don't give value to that and we will keep working for the progress of Maharashtra and that is why we have taken this decision. Most of our MLAs are satisfied with this. We have supported this govt with NCP Party.

We will contest all elections in the name of NCP only,» he said in a press conference on Sunday. Ajit Pawar also expressed his vested interest in Lok Sabha polls while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. «The country is progressing under the leadership of PM Modi.

He is also popular in other countries. Everyone supports him and appreciates his leadership. We will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections with them (BJP) and that is why we have taken this decision,» he said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed 40 MLAs of NCP (out of the total 53) have supported the state government. Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujabal claimed that they have the support of all the MLAs. Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister by Governor Ramesh Bais at the ceremony held in the Raj Bhawan, eight other NCP leaders took oath as ministers.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who was present in the Raj Bhawan, said Ajit Pawar has resigned as the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Lower House and he has accepted it. Those who were sworn in as ministers are Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmarao Atram, Anil Patil and Sanjay Bansode. The announcement came