18 to 19 NCP MLAs to Switch Sides After Monsoon Session, claims NCP Leader Rohit Pawar

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leer Rohit Pawar on Monday claimed 18 to 19 MLAs of ruling NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will cross over to ir side after upcoming monsoon session of state legislature.

Talking to reporters here, Rohit Pawar maintained re are several NCP MLAs who have never spoken ill against party founder Shar Pawar and or senior leers after July 2023 split in outfit.

"But y have to attend legislature session and get development funds for ir constituencies. So y will wait till session ends (before making switch over)," said grandnephew of NCP (SP) president Shar Pawar.

"re are 18 to 19 (NCP) MLAs who are in touch with us and Pawar saheb," and y will cross over to ir side after monsoon session, opposition legislator claimed.

Shar Pawar and or NCP (SP) leers will take a decision on whom to take back in fold, said MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district.

undivided NCP h won 54 assembly seats in 2019 polls. When party split in July 2023, Ajit Pawar-led faction h claimed support of around 40 MLAs.

monsoon session of legislature will begin on June 27 and end on July 12. This will be last session before state hes for assembly elections which are due in October.

Rohit Pawar stated that NCP Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel h been quoted as saying when next Union Cabinet expansion takes place, he will become a minister.

"This means Praful Patel has full hold over Ajit Pawar's party. It needs to be checked if Ajit Pawar separated (split) for development or to save Praful Patel from ED, " he asked.

NCP on June 9 turned down BJP's offer to accommodate Patel as a minister of state with independent charge in new NDA government. Ajit Pawar-led party is a BJP ally and constituent of ruling NDA.

In just concluded Lok Sabha polls, NCP (SP) won eight seats in Maharashtra, while NCP bagged just one.

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