A crucial meeting of the NCP legislature party is underway to discuss the situation arising out of the resignation of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and a similar offer made by 19 other party ministers.
The meeting has been called by state NCP President Madhukar Pichad to discuss the reasons for the sudden resignation of Pawar, according to State Housing Minister Sachin Ahir.
Ahir, however, made it clear that no precipitate action would be taken that would endanger the State’s Congress-NCP Government.
“There will be no uncertainty in Maharashtra. Our leader Sharad Pawar’s word will be final,” he told reporters outside the meeting venue in Vidhan Bhawan.
There were speculations that the meeting may not take place today following the demise of veteran NCP leader and former state assembly speaker Babasaheb Kupekar.
“The political situation following the resignation of Ajit Pawar will be discussed. There will also be a condolence meeting for Babasaheb Kupekar,” Ahir said.
Earlier, Ajit Pawar arrived at the Vidhan Bhawan accompanied by Pichad, PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and a large group of slogan-shouting supporters chanting, “Ajit Dada tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain’’.
The 13-year-old Congress-NCP coalition had plunged into a crisis yesterday following the surprise resignation of Pawar, nephew of party chief and Union Minister Sharad Pawar, in the aftermath of media reports of his involvement in a scam when he headed the Irrigation Ministry between 1999 and 2009.
Shortly afterwards, all other 19 NCP members of the state council of ministers submitted their resignation letters to Pichad.
However, Sharad Pawar has ruled out any threat to the coalition government.