In a dramatic turn of events, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), formed a coalition government in Maharashtra ending the month-long political crisis in the state.

BJP's Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Maharashtra CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar was made his deputy.

Tables turned overnight as NCP, which was all this while in favour of making a non-BJP government in Maharashtra with its ally Congress andUddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena. Several meetings and discussions were heldbetween the three parties and on Friday, they reached a consensus to form acoalition government under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. However, beforea final announcement could be made, Pawar played his cards and gave his supportto the BJP.

News agency ANI reports that Pawar was a part of the meetingwherein it was decided that Fadnavis would lead Maharashtra and the NCP supremohimself gave his assent to Ajit Pawar, his nephew, to form the government withBJP.

Ajit Pawar is the leader of NCP's Parliamentary Board of NCPbut no decision pertaining to the party is taken without Sharad Pawar'sconsent.

"People had given us a clear mandate, but Shiv Senatried to ally with other parties, as a result, President's Rule was imposed.Maharashtra needed a stable government not a 'khichdi' government,"Fadnavis said after taking oath as Maharashtra CM.Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, said,"From result day to this day, no party was able to form government,Maharashtra was facing many problems including farmer issues, so we decided toform a stable government."

After Fadnavis and Pawar took oath as Maharashtra CM andDeputy CM, respectively, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the twoleaders and said he is "confident they will work diligently for the brightfuture of Maharashtra." 

The Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena had seemingly reached thefinal stage to form government in Maharashtra. Earlier, Sharad Pawar had urgedSena chief Uddhav Thackeray to take the CM's post in the alliance governmentand in the last meeting held on Friday evening, it was unanimously decided thatUddhav will be the CM.

BJP which emerged as the single largest party in MaharashtraAssembly election could not stake claim to form a government as its ally ShivSena remained firm on having a government under 50:50 formula and rotating theCM's post. When the BJP rejected its demand, Shiv Sena later parted its wayswith the party to explore ways to form a government.