Ajit Pawar leads NCP ministers out of Maharashtra government

All ministers belonging to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the Maharashtra government have submitted their resignations to party's state unit chief Madhukar Pichad close on the heels of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's resignation following allegations of irregularities in project clearances.

All ministers and senior party leaders of NCP met Ajit Pawar at his official bungalow `Devgiri' after he announced his resignation.

"All ministers have submitted their resignations to me. Sharad Pawar is not in Delhi now. I will consult him to discuss the further course of action. The legislature party of the NCP will meet at 2 pm tomorrow," Pichad said.

NCP has 20 ministers in the Democratic Front government, including the deputy chief minister.

Ajit Pawar, nephew of party supreme and central minister Sharad Pawar, allegedly granted administrative clearances to various irrigation projects involving several crore of rupees during his decade-long tenure.

Pawar was quick to react with his resignation and said he was ready to face an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).