Mumbai:

Nationalist Congress Celebration (SP) chief Rohit Pawar on Monday claimed 18 to 19 MLAs of the ruling NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will cross over to their aspect after the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature.

Speaking to reporters, Rohit Pawar maintained there are a number of NCP MLAs who’ve by no means spoken ailing in opposition to celebration founder Sharad Pawar and different senior leaders after the July 2023 cut up within the outfit.

“However they must attend the legislature session and get growth funds for his or her constituencies. So they are going to wait until the session ends (earlier than making swap over),” mentioned the grandnephew of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar.

“There are 18 to 19 (NCP) MLAs who’re in contact with us and Pawar saheb,” and they’ll cross over to their aspect after the monsoon session, the opposition legislator claimed.

Sharad Pawar and different NCP (SP) leaders will take a call on whom to take again within the fold, mentioned the MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district.

The undivided NCP had received 54 meeting seats within the 2019 polls. When the celebration cut up in July 2023, the Ajit Pawar-led faction had claimed the assist of round 40 MLAs.

The monsoon session of the legislature will start on June 27 and finish on July 12. This would be the final session earlier than the state heads for meeting elections that are due in October.

Rohit Pawar said that NCP Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel had been quoted as saying when the subsequent Union Cupboard enlargement takes place, he’ll change into a minister.

“This implies Praful Patel has full maintain over Ajit Pawar’s celebration. It must be checked if Ajit Pawar separated (cut up) for growth or to avoid wasting Praful Patel from the ED, ” he requested.

The NCP on June 9 turned down the BJP’s provide to accommodate Patel as a minister of state with impartial cost within the new NDA authorities. The Ajit Pawar-led celebration is a BJP ally and constituent of the ruling NDA.

Within the simply concluded Lok Sabha polls, the NCP (SP) received eight seats in Maharashtra, whereas the NCP bagged only one. PTI MR RSY

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