New Delhi/IBNS: Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar has rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s offer of the Minister of State with Independent Charge portfolio for his colleague Praful Patel considering the post was not appropriate, media reports said.

Ajit Pawar cited Patel served as a cabinet minister in the past hence they would wait for such a berth in the Modi 3.0 government.

Pawar told reporters, "Praful Patel has served as a cabinet minister in the central government in the past so we did not feel right in accepting the offer of Minister of State with Independent Charge."

"So we told them (BJP) that we are ready to wait but we want a cabinet ministry. They agreed to it and we rejected the offer," he added.

Pawar, who attended the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday, said he told the BJP top brass that they would wait for a cabinet berth considering the number of his MPs will increase in the coming months with the new entrance of Rajya Sabha members.

The ruling NDA suffered a jolt in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls as their tally of seats tanked to 17 of 48 seats.

Out of 17, the NCP won only 1 while the BJP bagged 9 and Shiv Sena 7.

In response to Ajit Pawar's rejection, NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar told ANI, "Those who go (Ajit Pawar) with BJP have their power reduced...BJP wants to give a message that they did not benefit from them in the Lok Sabha...

"Praful Patel has benefitted the most in all this...The smartest person with Ajit Pawar is Praful Patel."