Ahead on Sharad Pawar’s visit to the National Capital, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) removed posters and hoardings of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, on Thursday. Workers were seen taking out the posters in Maulana Azad Road Circle and Janpath Circle near the NCP office. The posters said, "In the fight of truth and lie, the entire country is with Sharad Pawar" and "India's history is such that it has never forgiven those who have betrayed". News agency ANI shared visuals from Maulana Azad Road Circle and Janpath Circle near the NCP party office showing the workers taking down posters.
Sharad Pawar is heading to Delhi where he will be conducting a meeting with all the national executives of the NCP. The meeting will be held in the evening on Thursday. Pawar's visit to Delhi comes at a crucial time amidst the NCP's internal conflicts in Maharashtra.
The meeting is being held amid the ongoing crisis between him and his nephew Ajit Pawar, who has parted ways to become Maharashtra deputy chief minister.
On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar’s supporters thronged his residence in south Mumbai, hours ahead of the show of strength meetings convened by him and Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party held their meetings in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in south Mumbai and in Bhujbal Knowledge City in suburban Bandra, respectively.
The Election Commission of India has received a petition from Ajit Pawar staking claim to the NCP and party symbol. The Election Commission has also received a caveat from Jayant Patil that they have initiated a disqualification process against 9 MLAs. Ajit Pawar needs the support of at least 36 MLAs (Two-thirds of elected leaders in the assembly) to avoid the anti-defection law. NCP has 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly.
In a letter to the Election Commission, the rebel NCP faction mentioned that Ajit Pawar was the national president of the party and not Sharad Pawar, sources told ABP News. Ajit Pawar, who has said he has the backing of more than 35 MLAs, also staked claim to the Nationalist Congress Party name and party symbol.
On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar took a veiled dig at his uncle Sharad Pawar regarding his age that left the NCP Supremo's party members and loyalists fuming and resulted into a chain of reactions. Ajit Pawar urged Sharad Pawar to step down and give a chance to the new generation stating that even leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retire at the age of 75.