MUMBAI: For NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the unkindest cut of all in this political upheaval was probably Rajya Sabhamember Praful Patel's decision to align with the Ajit Pawar faction.

The switch made by Patel, considered Sharad Pawar's most trusted ally, one who has never taken a political decision without his mentor's knowledge, is being viewed as a personal setback for the NCP president.Read AlsoSidelined in party, Ajit Pawar's gameplan to take on uncle Sharad was in works for a yearAjit Pawar had been drafting a strategy to take on Pawar and cousin Supriya for a year, sources said.

NCP leaders said when Shinde was sworn in as CM on June 30, 2022, there was a plan for two dy CMs— Fadnavis - Ajit.

However, it didn’t work out as information was leaked to a top NCP leader.Supreme irony for Sena camp as their 'tormentor' returns to cabinetNCP leader Ajit Pawar's induction in the Eknath Shinde-helmed state cabinet couldn't be more ironic.

Shinde and the 39 MLAs, who raised a rebellion in the Shiv Sena, had last year blamed Ajit Pawar, as the then finance minister, of not allocating funds for their constituencies.

Moreover, they had"I am not upset with anybody exceptPraful Patel and Tatkare," said Pawar.A senior NCP leader said it was Sharad Pawar who introduced Patel in politics.

From chairman of the Gondia municipal council, Patel rose to become a Union cabinet member.

He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991, and then there was no looking back.

If he was defeated in polls, Pawar would ensured that he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha.For Patel, the most humiliating defeat was in 2014, when he lost to BJP nominee Nana Patole, who later joined Congress following differences with PM Modi.

Significantly, immediately after his defeat, he was nominated to Rajya Sabha.For Sharad Pawar, Patel was a crisis manager.

Recently, when Pawar resigned as NCP chief, it was Patel who resolved the dispute.

Following his intervention, Sharad Pawar withdrew his resignation.Ever since NCP's formation in 1999, Patel has played a crucial role in influencing allotment of seats for the Lok Sabha and state assembly and formation of cabinet.

Further, Patel was also instrumental in the formation of the MVA government in view of his cordial relations with the Gandhi family and veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel.06:54Not 'googly', it is a robbery, Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar joining NDAWatch“Collective decision, no pressure from ED or anyone,” Praful Patel on joining Shinde-led govt