Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with some other Ministers from his Nationalist Congress Party camp met NCP president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai today. This was the first meeting between Sharad Pawar and the group led by Ajit Pawar after he rebelled against his uncle and joined the Eknath Shinde government on July 2.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NCP leader Praful Patel said the Ajit Pawar led group expressed their wish that the NCP remains as one party. He added that they had gone there to seek his guidance. However, he said that Mr. Pawar did not give any reaction. Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel were joined by other NCP Ministers, including Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare and Dilip Walse Patil.

Sharad Pawar loyalist Jayant Patil, after the meeting, said that the MLAs had expressed regret over the recent events. He said that the nine MLAs who had taken oath as Ministers and those leaders who joined the current government suddenly came to meet Sharad Pawar. He informed that they have expressed regret at what has happened and urged him to show them a path out of these complications.
 
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress and Uddhav Thackeray led Shivsena decided to boycott the customary high tea party organised by the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today.