Devendra Fadnavis on Forming Short-Lived Government With Ajit Pawar: We Made Secret Strike Which Failed

Mumbai, December 8: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis has said that his decision to form a government with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was "a secret strike which failed". In an interview with a news channel on Saturday, Devendra Fadnavis also said that Ajit Pawar had told him that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar was aware of his decision of forming the government with the BJP. Devendra Fadnavis Elected Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly.

Fadnavi was sworn-in as Chief Minister along with Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister on November 23. However, the two-man government collapsed in barely 80 hours, paving the way for the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress's Maha Vikas Aghadi regime. Asked if going with Ajit Pawar was a mistake, Fadnavis said: "Only time will tell if this was a mistake…We made a secret strike (ganimi kawa) which failed." He stressed that Ajit Pawar took his own decision, but added that Sharad Pawar was perhaps kept in the loop. Sharad Pawar Reveals What Made Shiv Sena Accept 'Secularism', Clears NCP's Stand on Citizenship Amendment Bill.

"Can anyone force him to do anything? He came of his own will and there were many MLAs from NCP who were supporting him," Fadnavis was quoted as saying. Asked if Sharad Pawar was indeed aware of the deal, Fadnavis said: "This you will have to ask Ajit Pawar. He told me he knew. I can only say that there were things behind the scenes and between the lines that will be revealed at an appropriate time."

Earlier BJP chief Amit Shah said that taking support from Ajit Pawar was a miscalculated move. During an interview, Shah was asked if he considered the decision to take Ajit Pawar’s support a miscalculation or a mistake. In response, the Union Home Minister said that it can be classified as that.

In an early morning ceremony, Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister along with Ajit Pawar as his deputy on November 23. The unexpected development came a day after the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the alliance of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress, projected Uddhav Thackeray as its chief ministerial candidate.

The tri-party allaince had then approached the Supreme Court seeking immediate floor test. On November 26, the Supreme Court ordered a floor test. Hours after, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar resigned. Subsequently, the Maha Vikas Aghadi staked claim to form the government.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 08, 2019 05:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).