NCP MLAs pitch for Sharad Pawar's nephew for coveted seat, leaving political bigwigs like Chaggan Bhujbal and R R Patil aside

After Ashok Chavan's appointment as Maharashtra Chief Minister, the big question is who will be his deputy.

NCP MLAs, especially those from western Maharashtra the party's traditional bastion are pitching for 40-year-old Ajit Pawar's name for the post of deputy chief minister. Sharad Pawar's nephew won the Assembly polls from Baramati.

It's time
NCP's Bapu Pathare, who won from Wadgaon Sheri Assembly in Pune, said, "People feel now is the time for Ajit Pawar to be made the deputy chief minister. This is because other senior leaders Chaggan Bhujbal and R R Patil have enjoyed their stints as deputy CMs. This does not mean that we are against other leaders. We will abide by whatever decision our leader Sharad Pawar takes."

Added Ankush Kakade, NCP spokesperson and a staunch Sharad Pawar loyalist, "Many MLAs from western Maharashtra are eager to see Ajit Pawar as Maharashtra's deputy CM."

He added, "Around 45 NCP MLAs support Ajit Pawar and the party is optimistic that the 10 rebel candidates who got elected too will support him. He has good organisational qualities and so, a large number of party workers and MLAs back him."

Frontrunner
When asked if Chaggan Bhujbal and R R Patil could also throw in their hat in the ring, Kakade said, "It is possible that they might, but Ajit Pawar is the front-runner and in my view, he will be elected as the leader of the legislative party." The NCP will choose its leader tomorrow at the Rashtrawadi Bhavan.

However, Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar's daughter and MP from Baramati, said, "Our MLAs will meet in Mumbai and take a decision in this regard. I have no idea who they will be pitching for. It is their prerogative."

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson Anant Gadgil said, "We have a clear understanding with the NCP that the post of the deputy CM will go to them. But whom to elect as Ashok Chavan's deputy is their choice."

Report card
NCP won 24 out of the 70 Assembly seats in western Maharashtra, comprising some of politically significant districts like Pune, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Solapur. The NCP tally just two seats lesser than what the party won in the 2004 Assembly polls.