Ajit Pawar's decision to side with BJP his own, not that of NCP: Sharad Pawar

Mumbai, Nov 23: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP was his own and not that of the party.

"Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his," Pawar tweeted.

Earlier in the morning, the month-long political impasse in Maharashtra ended dramatically with Devendra Fadnavis returning as the chief minister again, backed by the NCP's Ajit Pawar.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister at Raj Bhavan.

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath to the two in the morning ceremony, where only official media was present.

People had given us a clear mandate, but Shiv Sena tried to ally with other parties after results, after which President's rule was imposed. Maharashtra needed a stable government, not a 'khichidi' government," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis said that the governor would give them a letter instructing when to prove the new government's majority on the floor of the assembly.

He added that the cabinet would be expanded at a later date.