As Ajit Pawar joins the NDA in Maharashtra, the NCP splits, and the opposition parties criticize the BJP.

Ajit Pawar Joins NDA in Maharashtra, NCP Splits, and Opposition Parties Criticize BJP: A Detailed Analysis

Summary:

In a major political upset, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has joined and will take oath on Sunday to join the ruling alliance of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra, taking oath as the deputy chief minister. This development has led to a split in the NCP, with several party MLAs following Pawar.

Reactions from opposition parties:

•             Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP was using “central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI against opponents” to engineer government formation.

•             Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the CPI(M), claimed that the BJP was engaging in “yet another spree” of divisiveness against the opposition.

•             PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that the BJP was “undermining the popular mandate in Maharashtra”.

Reactions from the BJP:

•             BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that the NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra had collapsed due to “internal bickering”.

•             BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the opposition parties were “completely disturbed” by the developments in Maharashtra.

The future of the NCP:

It is unclear what the future holds for the NCP after the split. The party has filed a disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and the other MLAs who joined the BJP. However, it is possible that the party will be able to survive the split, as it still has a significant number of MLAs.

The implications for Maharashtra politics:

The split in the NCP is a major setback for the opposition in Maharashtra. The party was one of the two main pillars of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government, and its departure will make it more difficult for the government to function. It is also possible that the split will lead to early elections in Maharashtra.

The implications for national politics:

The split in the NCP is also a major development for national politics. It is seen as a sign of the BJP’s growing strength and its ability to poach leaders from other parties. It is also a warning to other opposition parties that they need to be prepared for the BJP’s strategies.