Prior to Jadhav-Patil, MLAs Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar and Dipak Chavan had already crossed over to Ajit Pawar’s side. Last Friday, Jadhav-Patil made his decision, and hundreds of his supporters from Wai followed suit.
The split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) happened on July 2 when eight NCP MLAs took oath as ministers in the Maharashtra coalition government led by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis. Although Jadhav-Patil attended the oath-taking ceremony, he welcomed Sharad Pawar to Satara the next day and accompanied him on a trip to Karad.
According to sources, a purported video of the meeting between Ajit Pawar and Jadhav-Patil’s supporters reveals two conditions set by the latter for switching loyalty. These conditions include financial assistance to the debt-ridden Kisan Veer and Khandala sugar factories, as well as a cabinet berth for Jadhav-Patil himself.
Following Jadhav-Patil’s formal switch to Ajit Pawar’s side, the two reportedly held a closed-door meeting to discuss further strategies and plans.
It remains to be seen how this political realignment will impact the political landscape in Maharashtra and the broader implications for the Nationalist Congress Party. With multiple legislators now aligning with Ajit Pawar, speculations abound regarding the future political maneuverings in Maharashtra’s political arena.
