Team News Riveting
Mumbai, July 24
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday claimed NCP stalwart Ajit Pawar will be appointed as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Talking to a local news channel, Pawar said the development would take place around August 10 and Pawar would replace incumbent Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena. He claimed a decision on the disqualification of Shinde and 15 other MLAs of Shiv Sena will be taken around August 10.
“After deciding the disqualification of Shinde and other MLAs, incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would be anointed as the chief minister around August 10,” the former Maharashtra Chief Minister said.
Chavan also claimed that the BJP is not keen on contesting the next Lok Sabha elections under Shinde “as he wields no influence outside his home district of Thane”. “The BJP now has an alternative in Ajit Pawar,” he added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan’s claim. He said Ajit Pawar was well aware of the fact that he would not become the Chief Minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2. Fadnavis said the Cabinet may be expanded by that date and nothing else.
