No Split In NCP, Ajit Pawar Was Appointed Party President On June 30: Praful Patel
Patel expressed confidence that the majority of the party's legislators are in their support.
Praful Patel, the leader of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Friday expressed confidence that the majority of the party's legislators are in their support. He said: "No split in NCP, majority in party supporting Ajit Pawar." He stated that Ajit Pawar was unanimously appointed as party president by its legislature and organizational wings on June 30. Patel further stated that party under the leadership of Ajit Pawar has approached the Election Commission to stake claim to the name and symbol of the party founded by his uncle Sharad Pawar, news agency PTI reported.
Patel stated that they had submitted a plea to the Election Commission of India (ECI) with affidavits from more than 40 MLAs, telling it of Ajit Pawar's appointment and claiming ownership of the "party name and symbol."
NCP under Ajit Pawar''s leadership has approached Election Commission to reiterate claim on party name, symbol: Praful Patel
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 7, 2023
"An important meeting was held on June 30 at `Devgiri' (Ajit Pawar's official residence in Mumbai) where legislators, office-bearers and party workers were present. They unanimously appointed Ajit Pawar as their leader," he said.
Ajit Pawar immediately informed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar about Praful Patel's nomination as national working president, according to Patel.
Ajit Pawar was appointed as the NCP parliamentary party's leader, Anil Patel remained the party whip in the Assembly, and the Legislative Council chairwoman was notified that Amol Mitkari had been nominated as whip in the Council, he claimed.
"Who will determine (which is) the (real) political party ? It is in the domain of the Election Commission of India while actions of the legislators is the domain of the Speaker," Patel said.
"Our legal battle is underway so I won't come on the number of MLAs we (Sharad Pawar camp) have. However, I pray that they (Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar) come together again," said NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jitendra Awhad.
VIDEO | "Our legal battle is underway so I won't come on the number of MLAs we (Sharad Pawar camp) have. However, I pray that they (Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar) come together again," says NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jitendra Awhad. pic.twitter.com/aNN78MBCXj
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 7, 2023
Earlier this week, the Election Commission requested that both groups exchange the materials they had presented to it. According to reports, the poll authority would process the application within a few days.
In the midst of the NCP conflict, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawat met separately with respective MLAs in Mumbai on Wednesday. The NCP had 29 MLAs in attendance at the party meeting called by Ajit, while the Sharad Pawar side looked to have 17 legislators.
The NCP broke on Sunday when Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde-BJP administration.
The NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, has petitioned Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for disqualification of the nine MLAs.
On Sunday, Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Mundo, Dharmaraobaba Atram, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode, and Anil Patil joined the Maharashtra government of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis.
Sharad Pawar has expelled two of his close associates from the party for "anti-party activities."
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