Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: The Legislature Party of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday passed a resolution, asking Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to take back his resignation.
A resolution to this effect was moved by state party president Madhukar Pichad and was adopted unanimously.
"A resolution was adopted requesting Pawar to take back his resignation," Pichad told reporters after the meeting which lasted barely 20 minutes.
Pichad, who alone spoke at the meeting, said it was decided that the sentiments of legislators would be conveyed to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and he would take a final call.
However, the party appeared to be speaking in different voices with NCP vice-president Praful Patel stating that Ajit Pawar`s resignation as Deputy CM must be accepted.
Patel added that the Deputy CM’s post in Maharashtra will be kept vacant.
NCP strongman Ajit ‘dada’ Pawar had announced his resignation over the alleged irrigation scam.
With all the 20 ministers and powerful Independents supporting Ajit Pawar, the fate of Prithviraj Chavan’s government appears uncertain despite Sharad Pawar himself having assured the Congress that the equation in Mumbai won’t be disturbed.
Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, is keeping his cards close to his chest at the moment and has not given any indication of turning rebellious. But if he were to stick to his decision of not being part of the government, it may not augur well for the Congress government and more importantly for Sharad Pawar.
As the entire episode is also being seen as a leadership tussle within the party and with Ajit, reportedly, keen on asserting his control over the state unit, the end result of the present crisis would hold far reaching consequences for the NCP as well as politics in Maharashtra.
Patel meanwhile denied reports that the resignation was a sign of rebellion within the party and signalled the possibility of a split in it.
“There is no question of division within the party. It is undisputed that Sharad Pawar leads the party,” Patel added.
The simmering tensions in the 13-year-old coalition came to the fore yesterday with the resignation of Ajit following reports of scam to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees in irrigation projects during his tenure as Water Resources minister between 1999 and 2009.
