Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, on Sunday, clarified that his party had not joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Ministry. This decision came after the BJP offered the NCP a Minister of State (Independent Charge) position, while the NCP had requested a cabinet rank for its representative.
The NCP decided against accepting the MoS (Independent Charge) position because it had unanimously recommended its Working President, Praful Patel, for a ministerial role, considering his past experience as a Cabinet minister.
Despite this, Pawar emphasized that the NCP would remain part of the NDA and continue its support in the future.
"The party had taken a decision that Working President Praful Patel would represent it in the Union Cabinet. However, during discussions, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and JP Nadda communicated that NDA allies have been offered the MoS (Independent Charge). Praful Patel had worked as a Cabinet minister earlier and it would have been his demotion. The BJP leaders indicated that it would not be possible to accommodate Patel in the Cabinet as other allies have been offered MoS (Independent (Charge). BJP leaders, however, said that our request will be considered during expansion. Therefore, it was decided that the NCP will not join the cabinet but will continue to support the NDA," he said.
Praful Patel supported Pawar’s statement, adding: "There is some little bit of misunderstanding created because yesterday night we had got information that the NCP will get MoS (Independent Charge) which Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis also clarified. It is in line with what was offered to other alliance partners. The only difference is that I, having been a Cabinet minister in the Union government in the past, did have a reservation to accept the MoS (Independent Charge) as it would be for me personally coming down or demotion. So we have informed the BJP leadership and they have already told us to just wait for a few days, and they will take remedial measures. If that is the line the BJP has taken, it does not mean that we should say immediately that there is some problem."
Accompanied by BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, Patel emphasized their cooperative relationship: "Both of us are working hand in hand as we are here."
Earlier, Fadnavis confirmed that the NCP had been offered one MoS (Independent Charge) berth.
"But they had said that they had finalised the name of Praful Patel, who was already a Cabinet minister. Therefore, he would not be able to hold the post of MoS (Independent Charge. When a government is formed with an alliance some criteria need to be decided, because several sides are together... Because of one party, the criteria cannot be twisted. There will be expansion... at that time, the NCP will be remembered," Fadnavis said.
Despite the clarifications from Pawar and Patel, there is a perception among party members that this situation was deliberately orchestrated, especially given the NCP’s poor performance in the recent general elections. Patel's inclusion in the Cabinet would have sent a strong message to critics, particularly the NCP-SP, which mocked the NCP for its absence in the Cabinet. Moreover, a ministerial position for Patel could have bolstered the NCP’s efforts ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for September-October this year.
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