Ajit Pawar's counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, said that it was clear from the beginning that they (the Ajit Pawar group) were going to succeed, emphasising the Election Commission's patience and impartiality in delivering a verdict. Rohatgi highlighted that the outcome is not "rocket science", it is straightforward, attributing victory to the group with a numerical advantage in legislators, dismissing it as a basic calculation acknowledged by both sides.
"It was right from the beginning that I knew, on behalf of the Ajit Pawar group, that we were going to succeed. Very simply put, it's a game of numbers. Whoever has more legislators with him between the two groups, it is obvious will be the real party. It is not rocket science. The other side kept ducking this question because they knew that the numbers were not with them," Rohatgi told news agency ANI.
Putting the verdict simply, Rohtagi said: "It is a game of numbers, whoever has the more legislators with him as leading individual groups, it is obvious that the group with more numbers will be declared the real party. This way has been followed for decades now."
"The other side kept saying that Sharad Pawar had formed the party, so the founder must have the party, its symbol, and its name. Well, he may have founded the party, but right now, the legislators are not with him (Sharad Pawar). He must face the truth," Rohtagi added further.
Earlier in the day, the EC announced that the Ajit Pawar faction is the true Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), dealing a significant blow to party founder Sharad Pawar.
In an order, the Election Commission (EC) also assigned the NCP symbol 'Clock' to the group led by Ajit Pawar.
The decision followed the laid-out tests of maintainability of such a petition, which included tests of the party constitution's aims and objectives, the party constitution itself, and both organisational and legislative majority tests, according to the commission.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in response to the development, expressed gratitude for the democratic process prioritising the majority. Pawar highlighted the support of 50 MLAs and numerous district presidents and party cell chiefs.
Accepting the Election Commission's decision with humility, Ajit Pawar acknowledged the right of the rival Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde endorsed the Election Commission's ruling, asserting that it was based on merit and the prevailing majority within the NCP. The recognition of Ajit Pawar's faction as the authentic leadership marks a significant development in the ongoing political dynamics within the state.