The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is facing a crisis as Ajit Pawar, nephew of party leader Sharad Pawar, switched sides and joined the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde. Here are the key updates on Ajit Pawar’s move:
- The NCP has filed a petition with the Speaker of the Maharashtra assembly, Rahul Narvekar, seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP leaders who became ministers in the Shiv Sena-BJP government.
- The party has also written to the Election Commission of India (EC), emphasizing that Sharad Pawar remains the party’s leader and requesting the EC to listen to their side before taking any action based on Ajit Pawar’s requests.
- According to BJP sources, Ajit Pawar claims to have the support of more than 40 out of the NCP’s 53 MLAs in the state assembly.
- Ajit Pawar held a press conference with senior NCP leader Praful Patel, who was appointed as the party’s working president by Sharad Pawar a month ago. Ajit Pawar asserted that he has the support of the majority of the party and staked claim to the NCP’s name and symbol, similar to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after the split in Shiv Sena.
- Ajit Pawar and his loyalists may face disqualification under current laws until they move the Election Commission and establish themselves as the original NCP.
- Sharad Pawar responded to his nephew’s switch by stating that he will build new leadership in the party and denied any family problems, emphasizing that decisions are made individually.
- Sharad Pawar accused recently promoted NCP leaders, Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, of deviating from the party’s guidelines and taking the wrong path.
- Supriya Sule, NCP’s working president and Sharad Pawar’s daughter, expressed that the party’s internal developments will not affect the unity of the opposition. She also mentioned that despite differences, she will always love her brother, Ajit Pawar.
- The Congress party indicated its support for Sharad Pawar and stated that he, being a shrewd politician, will fight back, possibly in the court of public opinion. The party has called for a meeting of its legislators to maintain unity.
- The NCP experienced a vertical split when Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, sharing the position with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis. Additionally, eight other NCP MLAs, including prominent Pawar loyalists, were appointed as ministers.
