MUMBAI: With Ajit Pawar taking oath as deputy chief minister along with eight NCP MLAs including the seasoned Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse-Patil, yet another power centre has emerged in the Eknath Shinde-led government.

As the number of MLAs jostling for power increases, observers say Shinde's political heft and stature not just in government but even in power equations with the BJP high command may be tested.

Much will depend on his handling of this unwieldy coalition.In an enthusiastic reaction to Ajit's entry into his cabinet as deputy CM, Shinde said his was, until now, a double engine government.

"With Ajit Pawar's entry it has become a triple engine government.

It will run at the pace of the bullet train.

This is very good for the overall development of the state.

I welcome him and all his colleagues," Shinde said.He said Ajit Pawar had been meted out "poor treatment" within the NCP and his decision was an outcome of the situation.

"When people who are capable are sidelined, this is what happens," Shinde added.

"He has immense experience of administration, it will benefit the government and the people.

He saw the development work we did for the last one year, he has supported development." The CM said the NCP's MLAs, MPs and office bearers were all with him.However, sceptics say with nine NCP MLAs being inducted as ministers, elbow room for Shinde to accommodate the aspirations of those in the Sena, who have been waiting for a cabinet expansion, has shrunk.

Besides, they say the current lot of ministers from the Shinde faction may be overshadowed by those in NCP who have navigated the corridors of power as part of successive regimes and are known for an ability to network with bureaucrats.Interestingly, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat had recently said that if Ajit Pawar leaves the NCP and joins BJP or Shiv Sena, he would be welcome, but if he merged into the BJP with an NCP faction, the Shiv Sena (led by CM Eknath Shinde) will quit the government.

"We quit the MVA because we didn't want to be in the MVA.

If Ajit Pawar accepts the ideology of the Sena-BJP, then we will welcome him.

But if he joins the BJP with the NCP or a faction, then we will quit the government," Shirsat had said.