Though the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government in Maharashtra, the party’s Kerala unit has clarified that they will stand strong with the CPI(M)-led LDF government in the state. In a dramatic turn of events, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday with NCP’s Ajit Pawar as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Though this has come as a shocker to Kerala’s NCP unit, which is part of the Left Demcratic Front government, state leaders said that what happened in Maharashtra will not affect the party in Kerala. “The party will stand firm with LDF government in Kerala,” said NCP state president Thomas Chandy, who is also a member of Kerala assembly.

NCP has three legislators in Kerala and one of them, AK Saseendran is a minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

TP Peethambaran Master, NCP general secretary, told the media that the party should take action against Ajit Pawar. He also stated that NCP chief Sharad Pawar has clarified that he did not have any knowledge about the moves of Ajit Pawar to back the BJP. Mani C Kappan, NCP leader and Pala MLA has also lashed out at Ajit Pawar’s move in Maharashtra. NCP's Thomas Chandy has also stated that the Congress is responsible for what happened in Maharashtra. 

NCP state leaders reportedly have also talked to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is on a trip to Japan, and has assured the party’s firm stand with the LDF government. Minister for Transport AK Saseendran is also accompanying Pinarayi Vijayan in the tour.  

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) in Kerala has also condemned the NCP’s move in Maharashtra. 

CPI(M) polit bureau member S Ramachandran Pillai said that what happened in Maharashtra was a “huge sabotage” and an “onslaught to democracy” in India. Whereas, Elamaram Kareem, CITU state general secretary and Rajyasabha member claimed to the media that there is a mystery around the recent meeting of Sharad Pawar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.