In a setback for Sharad Pawar, all seven Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs in Nagaland have joined the Ajit Pawar's faction of the party, reports ndtv.com

"The MLAs have sent a letter of support to Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Maharashtra, extending their support," informed Vanthungo Odyuo, President of the Nagaland unit of the NCP.

Earlier this month, Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joined the Maharashtra Shiv Sena and BJP alliance government, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. That move split the NCP, the party founded by Sharad Pawar.

In 2019, the Shiv Sena had ended the alliance with the BJP and formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra with the Congress and NCP.

The government collapsed last year after Mr Shinde split the party and joined hands with the BJP to form a new government.