New Delhi: NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Sunday, triggering speculations of breaking up of the Nationalist Congress Party.

After Pawar, Maharahtra MLA Chhagan Bhujbal also took oath as minister after Ajit Pawar in presence of Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis.

Dhananjay Munde, Hasan Mushrif and former Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil also taken the oath as ministers. Aditi Tatkare, daughter of Sunil Tatkare also took the oath as minister. Working president of NCP Praful Patel and treasurer Sunil Tatkare were also present at the function.

Ajit Pawar had called an urgent meeting of MLAs at his residence then, he headed to the Raj Bhavan. This followed speculations that the Ajit Pawar may join hands with BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

Today’s move has shacked the NCP, which seems to be on the verge of breaking up after Ajit Pawar’s camp joined the current government. There are words that a conflict will emerge on the basis that the decision of joining the government was of a group of MLAs and not party’s.