NCP decision to appoint Pawar came hours after the Congress announced Prithviraj Chavan as the new chief minister of Maharashtra. The state is ruled by a Congress-NCP coalition.
"A meeting of the NCP legislators has unanimously elected (Ajit) Pawar as the new deputy CM," senior party leader Praful Patel announced Wednesday evening.
Intense lobbying by Bhujbal failed to work and Pawar managed to secure the support of over around 50 NCP legislators plus a few independents, party sources said.Bhujbal bowed before the party's wishes and proposed the name of Pawar as the new deputy chief minister; it was seconded by Home Minister R.R. Patil.
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