What Sharad Pawar said after Ajit Pawar, other NCP leaders joined Shinde Govt

Pune: Hours after Ajit Pawar and some other Nationalist Congress Party leaders joined the Maharashtra government, party chief Sharad Pawar said, "this is not 'googly', it is a robbery" and that he was worried about the future of those who left the party.

Talking to reporters after his nephew and eight other party leaders rebelled and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra, Pawar said he was not worried about what happened and will work to strengthen the party again.

He also hinted at action against party leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, saying they did not follow their responsibilities. Sharad Pawar said some of those who joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government were facing ED cases.

Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP leaders took oath as ministers.

"This is not 'googly', it is a robbery. It is not a small thing," Sharad Pawar said.

"Some of my colleagues have taken a different stand. I had called a meeting of all the leaders on July 6, where some important issue was to be discussed and some changes were to be made within the party but before that meeting, some of the leaders have taken a different stand."

Sharad Pawar said that in the next two-three days, they will sit with Congress and Uddhav Thackeray to access the situation. "Our main strength is the common people, they have elected us".

Cong slams BJP

Meanwhile,the Congress on Sunday slammed the BJP after senior NCP leader Ajit Power and several others were sworn-in as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Ministers, respectively, and said it will intensify its efforts to free the state from the clutches of the ruling dispensation.

"Clearly BJP's 'washing machine' has resumed its operations. A number of new entrants into the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra today had been facing serious corruption charges with ED, CBI and IT authorities after them. Now they have all got a clean chit", said Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh in a tweet, referring to the Maharashtra political developments.

He added, "The Congress will intensify its efforts to free Maharashtra from the clutches of the BJP."