KOLHAPUR: NCP MP Sunil Tatkare, who is also state president from the Ajit Pawar faction, on Sunday said the state cabinet will be expanded and NCP MLAs will be allotted district guardian minister portfolios before the start of Ganeshotsav.
“Chief minister Eknath Shinde and his two deputies – Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis – will take a decision in this regard. There will be no bickering of any sort,” Tatkare said when asked if there was any tension between deputy CM Ajit Pawar and BJP minister Chandrakant Patil.
The Raigad MP said everyone in the NCP wants Ajit to become the chief minister. “It is our dream that he becomes the CM, but we are realistic and not in a hurry. We will contest the elections as an NDA ally in the state as well as at the national level. We had the opportunity to make a party leader the CM in 2004, but I do not know why it was not taken,” he added.
Tatkare exuded confidence that the Election Commission of India (ECI), like it did in the case of the Shiv Sena, will recognise the Ajit faction as the real NCP. “The Supreme Court has said the ECI is an independent body and will take its decision on the basis of the party’s constitution, organisation and strength. We are confident the poll panel will rule in our favour,” he added.
“Chief minister Eknath Shinde and his two deputies – Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis – will take a decision in this regard. There will be no bickering of any sort,” Tatkare said when asked if there was any tension between deputy CM Ajit Pawar and BJP minister Chandrakant Patil.
The Raigad MP said everyone in the NCP wants Ajit to become the chief minister. “It is our dream that he becomes the CM, but we are realistic and not in a hurry. We will contest the elections as an NDA ally in the state as well as at the national level. We had the opportunity to make a party leader the CM in 2004, but I do not know why it was not taken,” he added.
Tatkare exuded confidence that the Election Commission of India (ECI), like it did in the case of the Shiv Sena, will recognise the Ajit faction as the real NCP. “The Supreme Court has said the ECI is an independent body and will take its decision on the basis of the party’s constitution, organisation and strength. We are confident the poll panel will rule in our favour,” he added.