Ajit Pawar To Replace Eknath Shinde As Maharashtra CM? Senior Congress Leader Makes Big Statement

Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs of Sharad Pawar's NCP joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on July 2. While Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister, the rebel NCP MLAs were sworn in as ministers.

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New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Monday claimed that Nationalist Congress Party's Ajit Pawar will be appointed as the chief minister of Maharashtra around August 10. He said that a decision on the disqualification of incumbent CM Eknath Shinde and 15 other Shiv Sena MLAs will be taken around August 10.

"After deciding the disqualification of Shinde and other MLAs, incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would be anointed as the chief minister around August 10," Prithviraj Chavan, a former Maharashtra chief minister, was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

He also stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not keen on contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections under Eknath Shinde as he wields 'no influence' outside his home district of Thane.

"The BJP now has an alternative in Ajit Pawar," Chavan added.

He alleged that 'use and throw' is the work style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"This is the fate of Shinde. The understanding of top BJP leadership indicates they want to make Ajit Pawar the chief minister and face elections," he added.

It is notable that Ajit, who is veteran politician Sharad Pawar's nephew, and eight MLAs of NCP joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on July 2. While junior Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister, the rebel NCP MLAs were sworn in as ministers. Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, a former chief minister, is also a deputy chief minister.

Both Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde had recently met PM Modi at the NDA's crucial meeting in Delhi.

Ajit Pawar won't become Maharashtra CM: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dismissed Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's claim that Ajit Pawar would be appointed as the chief minister replacing Eknath Shinde in August. Fadnavis said Ajit Pawar is well aware of the fact that he would not become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2.

Responding to Chavan's claim that Ajit Pawar will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10, Fadnavis said the Cabinet may be expanded by that date and nothing else.

"As a leader of the single largest party in 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance), I am officially telling you that Ajit Pawar will not become the chief minister of Maharashtra," Fadnavis told reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan.

When meetings of 'Mahayuti' took place (before the July 2 induction of the NCP faction in the government), Ajit Pawar was given a clear picture that he would not get the post of chief minister, the senior BJP leader said.

"He (Ajit) not only agreed to it but also made it clear in his speech that there is no discussion on changing the guard in Maharashtra," he said, and stressed Eknath Shinde will remain the CM and there will be no change.

Fadnavis snubbed Prithviraj Chavan for allegedly peddling rumours.

"They should stop confusing people about 'Mahayuti'. Leaders are not confused but party workers do get perplexed. People like Prithviraj Chavan are spreading rumours. If something is going to happen by August 10, it would be the expansion of the state Cabinet. The CM will take a call on it," he said.

Ajit Pawar aspires to be CM

Earlier this month, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had said that he aspired to become the CM of the state.

"I was sworn in deputy CM five times. It is a record but the vehicle stops there, and doesn't proceed further. I feel from the bottom of my heart that I should become pramukh (cm) of the state," Ajit Pawar, who has never hidden his chief ministerial ambitions, told a meeting convened by him at Mumbai Educational Trust in Mumbai on July 5.

"I have some things which I want to implement and for that becoming pramukh (CM) is essential," he added.