Sunil Tatkare Vs Praful Patel: Open Tussle in NCP For Cabinet Berth in Modi 3.0, Ajit Pawar Roped In

New Delhi: As India gears up for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi for the third time in a row on Sunday, June 9, Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has been marred with tussle over ministerial berth. 

Narendra Modi is all set to take charge as the prime minister for a historic third consecutive term with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, at 7:15 pm. As the BJP scored 240 seats, falling short of simple majority, it is expected to accommodate NDA allies in the cabinet. 

Amid this, an open tussle has broken out between Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare over ministerial berth. Sunil Tatkare has been adamant that an MP from the Lok Sabha must be sworn-in as a minister in the Narendra Modi's new-cabinet instead of Rajya Sabha. While Sunil Tatkare, Maharashtra NCP chief, is a Lok Sabha MP, Patel represents the party in Rajya Sabha. 

While Maharashtra deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that NCP was alloted a a berth in Modi cabinet with independent berth, however, the NCP demanded a cabinet portfolio. 

Sunil Tatkare is the only MP from NCP to win the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. Sunil Tatkare has been elected from Raigad parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra, the only seat that the NCP won out of the four it contested. The BJP has distanced itself from the issue and has roped in NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar to resolve the matter. 

Following NCP's poor performance in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, several reports suggested that MLAs of Ajit Pawar's camp were in touch with Sharad Pawar. Refuting those claims, Sunil Tatkare had asserted that all MLAs are united with Ajit Pawar and such misinformation was deliberately spread during the Lok Sabha elections. 

"Rumours are being spread deliberately that our MLAs are in touch with Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP...All our MLAs are with us and we are one team. Such rumours and fake videos were being circulated even during elections," the Maharashtra NCP chief said, as quoted by ANI. 

In Maharashtra, the BJP-led NDA alliance has only secured 17 seats while the INDI alliance has secured a major 30 seats in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.