Supporters of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy chairman Minister Ajit Pawar clashed over the control of party office in Nashik on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. Both sides chanted slogans. Those who supported Sharad Pawar alleged they were barred from going to the party office.
Bhujbal, MLA from Yeola in Nashik district, joined the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition in the state on Sunday, joining Ajit Pawar and seven other lawmakers, causing a schism in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, PTI reported.
In the morning, Bhujbal supporters seized over 'Rashtrawadi Bhavan,' the NCP office in Mumbai Naka.
In the afternoon, followers of Sharad Pawar attempted to enter the office, resulting in a clash between the two sides.
Police, on the other hand, barred Sharad Pawar supporters from accessing the office, including district NCP chairman Kondaji Awhad, former city unit president Gajanan Shelar, and others. “This is Rashtrawadi Pratishthan's office. Bhujbal does not have anything to do with it. All are our leaders but Sharad Pawar has founded the NCP and it is his party. We will take possession of the office within a day,” Shelar said.
Awhad stated that as district NCP leader, he had the authority to convene a meeting in the office.
Dilip Khaire, a Bhujbal fan, stated that they would not allow the other group into the office. He accused Awhad of attending the inauguration ceremony on Sunday but afterwards changing his mind.
Ravindra Pagar, the city NCP chairman, stated that everyone supported Sharad Pawar and that he would attend a meeting called by Bhujbal. "Everyone should maintain peace," he said.
Supporters of Sharad Pawar also conducted a sit-in outside the office before departing.
After Sunday's drama, NCP president Sharad Pawar led the charge on Monday, sacking party's working president Praful Patel and general secretary and treasurer Sunil Tatkare after both sided with Ajit Pawar in his revolt. The NCP supremo's action came soon after NCP working president Supriya Sule, in a letter, demanded disciplinary action against Patel, known to be a close aide of Sharad Pawar, and Tatkare, whose daughter Aditi took oath as minister on Sunday.
In a tit-for-tat move, the Ajit Pawar faction appointed Tatkare as the Maharashtra NCP president in place of Jayant Patil. It also asked the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to disqualify Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from membership of the House. Addressing a press conference, Praful Patel announced Ajit Pawar as the leader of the NCP legislature party.