Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has resigned following correuption charges. Irregularities were allegedly committed in granting administrative approvals to projects involving several crore of rupees during his tenure as Irrigation Minister between 1999 and 2009. He held Finance and Energy portfolios in the Prithviraj Chavan government before he resigned yesterday. Announcing his resignation at a press conference, Ajit Pawar said he has resigned because nobody should think that he influenced the investigation holding the post. He said, he is still an NCP MLA and will carry out responsibilities.

Hours later, all NCP Ministers in the Congress-led government submitted their resignations to the party's State Unit Chief Madhukar Pichad. The NCP legislature party is scheduled to meet today to discuss the future course of action.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said the Maharashtra government will not be stirred by the resignation of Ajit Pawar and there is no threat of the state government. He said that he supports Ajit Pawar’s decision and also said that Ajit Pawar had consulted him before announcing the resignation. Mr Sharad Pawar also said that Maharashtra government should bring a white paper on the alleged irrigation scam.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said that he will speak to leaders of his party Congress and those from ally NCP before taking a decision on the resignation of his deputy Ajit Pawar. He was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Congress Ministers and leaders late last evening to discuss the political situation arising out of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar's resignation.