Discussions on among Maha Yuti allies for govt formation: Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Monday said discussions were underway among the Mahayuti partners to finalise a formula for the new government formation in the state.

Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also acknowledged the contribution of the government's Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, in the Maha Yuti's victory in the just-concluded state assembly polls.

The NCP leader also assured that the alliance was working cohesively following its resounding victory in the state assembly elections.

Pawar paid tributes to Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan at his memorial in Karad on his death anniversary.

In the state poll results declared on Saturday, the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, bagged an impressive 230 of the 288 assembly seats.

The focus has been on BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is being seen as a strong contender to occupy the top post for the third time, as his party bagged 132 of the 149 seats it contested in the state.

Notably, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar has said his party legislators feel Eknath Shinde should continue as the chief minister of the state, where the ruling Mahayuti scored a landslide victory in the assembly polls.

Ajit Pawar said, "We will decide what formula to work out on the cabinet formation among the three parties." Reflecting on the elections, he acknowledged the contribution of the Ladki Bahin scheme in the Mahayuti's win.

"We cannot ignore that Ladki Bahin helped us in this election. We are grateful to them (women voters)," he said.

Defending the scheme, Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, further said, "Had I been opposed to the Ladki Bahin scheme, I would not have presented it in the House. I discussed the scheme with several retired finance officers before finalising it." Pawar also dismissed concerns raised by some opposition leaders over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), pointing out that polls in states like Punjab, West Bengal and Telangana, governed by their political opponents, have been conducted with the same system.

Commenting on members of same families contesting against each other during the elections, Pawar expressed annoyance over repeated questions on it.

He then asked, "Why was my close nephew fielded? Atram's own daughter was fielded against him, and even Rajendra Shingne faced a similar challenge. I don't want to comment further on this. I have got tired of apologising for fielding my wife against Supriya. Yugendra was in business, then why was he prepared to contest against me?" In the Baramati assembly seat, Ajit Pawar was pitted against his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar.

In Aheri seat, NCP leader Dharamraobaba Atram's daughter Bhagyashree Atram contested against him on NCP (SP) ticket.

During the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year, Ajit Pawar fielded his wife Sunetra Pawar against his cousin Supriya Sule, the daughter of his uncle and NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar, from the Baramati parliamentary constituency.

Later, Ajit Pawar had expressed regret over fielding his wife against Sule.