INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sixty-six-year-old Praful Patel has emerged as a master strategist
In the recent unexpected political developments in the state, Patel, a trusted colleague of Sharad Pawar, played a crucial role following
which rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar was installed as the state deputy chief minister and eight other veteran NCP leaders close to Sharad Pawar
joined the ruling government.In November 2019, Ajit Pawar had joined hands with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis
While Fadnavis was installed as chief minister, Ajit Pawar took over as deputy CM
But it was a failed attempt of revolt since against 42 legislators, only three joined Ajit Pawar, who had since been making all possible
efforts to engineer a split in the NCP so that he isn't required to form a new party and get into lengthy legal formalities with the
Election Commission of India
Ajit Pawar gradually realised he was not alone.04:12A major setback for Sharad Pawar: Trusted aide Praful Patel joins Ajit Pawar
factionSeveral senior NCP leaders led by Praful Patel supported his idea to declare a new group as the real NCP with Ajit Pawar as its chief
Patel immediately swung into action and mobilised the support of a requisite number of legislators
As Patel had been in politics in New Delhi for several decades, he knew the tricks of the game
Instead of negotiating with state leaders, he sorted it out directly with BJP top brass
All along, it was felt that state BJP leaders may not agree to part with finance, planning, cooperation, revenue, and excise, but it was a
Except revenue and excise, there was no dispute over sharing of portfolios.When foe turns friend: Former BJP Lok Sabha member Kirit Somaiya
is left red-faced following the induction of NCP leader Hasan Mushrif as minister for medical education and special assistance in the
Shinde-Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar government
Somaiya had on September 21, 2021, lodged a complaint against Mushrif under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
Mushrif was then a rural development minister in the MVA government
Somaiya had alleged that Mushrif was involved in the Rs 100 crore corruption in Appasaheb Nalawade sugar factory in Kolhapur through a
private firm directly linked to Mushrif's relatives
Mushrif has already described the allegations as baseless.Somaiya had, in fact, personally visited Kolhapur to lodge a complaint with the
police as well as the Enforcement Directorate
Alarmed by the possibility of his arrest, Mushrif moved the high court, which granted him interim protection till August 12
Mushrif is now part of the current three-party government
Mushrif is not alone, there are several NCP politicians who were under ED, CBI and income tax department lens and have now switched loyalty
to the BJP.'Praful Patel was Sharad Pawar's shadow' | Is closest aide ready to spill secrets?WatchAjit Pawar faction leaders meet NCP chief
Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Center; No big deal in it, says Devendra Fadnavis
