Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra deputy chief minister, resigned following allegations of irregularities in clearing irrigation projects in the state. NCP ministers have supported him and around 20 of them have offered to resign. Pawar’s resignation is seen as a tactical move in improving his public image as he wants to take the centre stage in state politics and position himself as the NCP’s chief ministerial candidate. Pawar, hopes to project himself as a leader who was not keen on holding on to a cabinet post when corruption allegations had been levelled against him.

Praful Patel, party vice-president, said there was no threat to the Congress-NCP alliance in the state. But this also signals that the imminent threat is to Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is not a favourite with NCP.