Mumbai, May 4 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has welcomed the decision of former ministers Gulabrao Deokar and Satish Patil to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

"Many leaders have joined the party. Those who have joined the party have worked in various positions - some are former MLAs. Some are officials associated with cooperative institutions. They have been welcomed wholeheartedly. Efforts are on to expand our party," Pawar told reporters on Sunday.

The induction of Deokar and Patil, who are said to be close aids of Sharad Pawar, is being seen as Ajit Pawar trying to strengthen his party's hold in north Maharashtra, posing a challenge to its rival party - Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).

Th...