Bharat Express

Nationalist Congress Party

In July, Sharad Pawar's party was splitted after Ajit Pawar and a number of NCP MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP administration in Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister in the Eknath Shinde government

Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra administration as the deputy chief minister.

"Thackeray agreed that if the NDA gets majority, Fadnavis will be the chief minister (again) of Maharashtra. However, after the results (in 2019), Thackeray broke the promise and sat in the Congress-NCP's lap.": Amit Shah

Notably, Ajit Pawar has denied speculation that he and a group of MLAs loyal to him might align with the BJP and said he would be with the NCP till he is alive.