Why Ajit Pawar's NCP Is Not Part Of PM Modi's Council Of Ministers, Here's What Maharashtra Leaders Said

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Sunday (9 June) said that they will not be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Council of Ministers for now.

He said, "We demanded a Cabinet berth, but we were offered Minister of State Independent Charge, like what has been given to (Maharashtra CM Eknath) Shinde's (Shive Sena) party."

He explained, "Today we have one member in Lok Sabha and one member in Rajya Sabha. But in the coming months, we will have three members in Rajya Sabha, giving a total of four in Parliament."

"Praful Patel has served as a Cabinet Minister in the Centre. We did not feel right to take the MoS Independent Charge position despite this. That's why we are ready to wait for a few days," Pawar added.

He reiterated his demand for a Cabinet berth. However, he asserted that as a member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), they will be going to the oath ceremony of PM Modi.

Earlier, another Deputy CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had said, "NCP has nominated Praful Patel for the Cabinet post. However, in an alliance, multiple sides have to be kept in mind."

However, he expressed hope that during the Cabinet expansion of PM Modi, NCP's demand will be accommodated while reiterating the present offer of MoS Independent Charge.