Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Shashikant Shinde on Saturday said party chief Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders were not informed in advance about Sunetra Pawar being sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, reported news agency PTI.

Decision taken amid ongoing talks on NCP faction reunification

Addressing reporters, Shinde said the decision regarding Sunetra Pawar’s oath ceremony was taken without the knowledge of Sharad Pawar or the NCP (SP) leadership. He added that discussions on bringing together the two Nationalist Congress Party factions had been underway, particularly after the recently concluded civic elections, but the sudden developments had taken the party by surprise.