Didnt offer Ajit Pawar CM post: BJP

Even as Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari denied that the saffron alliance had approached NCP leader Ajit Pawar with an offer for the Chief Ministers post....

Even as Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari denied that the saffron alliance had approached NCP leader Ajit Pawar with an offer for the Chief Ministers post if he defected with his followers,Congress leaders said this was a ploy by the NCP to gain more ministerial berths.

Sharad Pawar also sought to play down his nephews claims. This is a political game. The thing is that we will go as per the existing understanding between Congress and NCP, Pawar said in New Delhi. Somebody might have made an offer. I do not know. But who will give importance to it? This is not of any significance.

Shiv Sena sources,however,said they would welcome Ajit if he split from the NCP,and pointed to the Pune pattern,where the NCP,Shiv Sena and BJP had wrested power from the Congress in the municipal corporation.

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Meanwhile,with no decision on Cabinet berths yet,Congress leaders claimed that Ajits claim was the NCPs way of putting pressure. The Congress is now demanding a larger share of portfolios,as compared to the 2004 formula where the NCP held 24 berths in the ministry as it was the single largest party in the Assembly and the Congress settled for 19.

With its seat-share rising to 82 as compared to the NCPs 62,the Congress is staking claim to important portfolios like Home,even as the NCP has threatened to support the government from outside.

This is purposely being used as a pressure tactic, said a Congress leader,adding that Ajit splitting the NCP seemed impractical. He added that the NCP,which has three ministerial berths in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre,could not afford to snap its ties with the Congress.

Though Ajit Pawar could not be reached for comment,NCP state unit president and former deputy chief minister R R Patil denied that Ajit was disgruntled at being denied the deputy chief ministers chair.

With ENS inputs from New Delhi

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