New Delhi: Retaliating to Ajit Pawar’s move to take fellow MLAs along with him to join Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, the Nationalist Congess Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is likely to declare Jitendra Awhad as the chief whip, reported media sources.

With the power of chief whip or Leader of Opposition (LoP), Awhad can take legal action against the rebel leaders under anti-defection law. If the party would take action against them then, the leaders could be disqualified too.

Earlier in the day, NCP leader Ajit Pawar took MLAs to Raj Bhavan and merged with Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government. He along with 9 leaders including senior leaders like Dilip Walse Patil and Chagan Bhujbal took oath as minister.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government appointed the NCP leader as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

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As of now, Pawar has not confirmed the number of supporting MLAs with him but BJP leader BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar mentioned that over 40 of them are with the decision. Meanwhile, Pawar himself saying that he has the support of the entire party, including Sharad Pawar’s.

Although, Maharashtra’s newly-appointed Deputy Chief Minister Pawar stated that the group of (rebel) MLAs joined the state government as NCP leaders only, there are still speculations of conflict within the party, which is likely to be broken up following his decision.

“Now that we are in power…,” said the newly-appointed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and listed a number of amends he will be going to bring within the party for its better like adding more poeple with the party.