MUMBAI: As anticipated, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a record fourth time, here on Monday.
He was administered the oath of office by Governor B.S. Koshyari in the presence of Maha Vikas Aghadi Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other dignitaries.
This is for the fourth time that the 60-year-old Ajit Pawar – nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar – has become the Deputy Chief Minister – the first being in November 2010, then October 2012, later in November 2019 for barely 80 hours, and again on Monday.
The only other leader to hold the post more than once is his senior NCP colleague – Chhagan Bhujbal in October 1999 and December 2008.
All others – Nasikrao Tirpude, Sundarrao Solanke, Ramrao Adik, Gopinath Munde, R.R. Patil (all deceased) and Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil – have occupied the post only once.