In November last year, the senior NCP leader created a flutter when he joined hands with the then BJP chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and became his deputy after an early morning swearing-in ceremony in Raj Bhavan.
However, the BJP-Ajit Pawar government lasted for just 80 hours after which he got back into the NCP fold and became a Cabinet minister in the Shiv Sena-led dispensation.
Referring to the rebellion before the MVA government took charge, he said in the assembly, “Whatever I did, I did it openly. I crossed over and came back. Now, I am firmly in the saddle here.”
Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, made the remarks while replying to budget demands.