Mumbai:
Ministers from the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP in Maharashtra have submitted their resignations to party chief Sharad Pawar ahead of the cabinet reshuffle on June 15. Among those who put in their papers on Friday were Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Home Minister RR Patil and Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil.
According to sources close to the party, the move was expected as Mr Pawar wants his senior leaders, who currently hold top state posts, to focus on the 2014 general elections. Mr Pawar's NCP, which is a close ally of the Congress at the Centre and in Maharashtra, won eight seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls; sources say the party wants to double its share in next year's elections.
The party also reportedly wants to bring in new faces in the Maharashtra government as an overhaul with several of its leaders accused of scams.
There are reports that Maharashtra NCP chief Madhukar Pichad and party leader and Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil have also submitted their resignations. The new president of the NCP state unit may be announced in around a week's time, sources said.
According to sources close to the party, the move was expected as Mr Pawar wants his senior leaders, who currently hold top state posts, to focus on the 2014 general elections. Mr Pawar's NCP, which is a close ally of the Congress at the Centre and in Maharashtra, won eight seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls; sources say the party wants to double its share in next year's elections.
The party also reportedly wants to bring in new faces in the Maharashtra government as an overhaul with several of its leaders accused of scams.
There are reports that Maharashtra NCP chief Madhukar Pichad and party leader and Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil have also submitted their resignations. The new president of the NCP state unit may be announced in around a week's time, sources said.
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