Bhaskar Jadhav named Maharashtra NCP chief; Awhad working president

He succeeds Madhukar Pichad who was among the six ministers inducted in the ministry on Tuesday. The party also announced that Jitendra Awhad, legislator from adjoining Thane, will be the new working President of its state unit.u00a0

New Maharashtra NCP chiefu00a0Bhaskar Jadhav

The announcements were made at a meeting of the party in presence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Appointment of the new state NCP chief assumes significance as the party gears for the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections.

NCP dropped six of its 20 ministers in recent reshuffle exercise. The NCP is in coalition with the Congress in the state.u00a0

Last week, Pawar, in a surprise move, asked all the 20 ministers of his party to submit their resignations. "There was a feeling that if new faces aren't brought in, the party's young leadership will soon be demoralised and will start feeling restive," a party leader said. u00a0