Kolhapur/IBNS/UNI: Dropping a political bomb, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan Monday predicted that present deputy chief minister and rebel Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar will soon become the chief minister by sidelining incumbent Eknath Shinde.

While talking with a TV news channel, he claimed that the BJP leadership does not want to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Shinde, since he does not seem to have much influence outside his bastion of Thane.

"Now, BJP has an alternative in Pawar, who will be made the chief minister, and a decision to this effect will be taken after the Assembly Speaker decides on Shinde's defection issue, which will happen on or after August 10," he said.

Then, Pawar will become chief minister of the state and he will be given responsibility of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress leader noted.

"This will happen as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi's modus operandi of use and throw away," he claimed.

On allegations of Ajit Pawar showing prejudice in distribution of funds to NCP MLAs after becoming Finance minister, Chavan replied that it is difficult to say whether it (giving funds) was a fulfilment of assurance or as a financial inducement to NCP MLAs for switching sides or a 'free hand' for NCP MLAs.