Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split in Maharashtra, as several of its top leaders including Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde ministry on Sunday.

While Pawar, nephew of party chief Sharad Pawar, was made the deputy chief minister, top party leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, Dilip Walse-Patil, Hasan Mushrif and Dhananjay Munde also joined the ministry.

Earlier, Ajit Pawar went to the Raj Bhawan accompanied by 29 MLAs.

Sources told UNI Sharad Pawar was upset at the sudden development and has not supported his nephew.