NCP filed a disqualification appeal with assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar after NCP leader Ajit Pawar and a small group of MLAs took the oath and joined the Eknath Shinde government, throwing the party into turmoil.
Also, the party has written to the Election Commission to express its support for Sharad Pawar, the leader of the NCP, on behalf of party members from every district.
Ajit Pawar and eight other individuals who took an oath of office as ministers in the Eknath Shinde led state government have been named in a disqualification petition, according to Maharashtra NCP President Jayant Patil.
Jayant Patil, the president of the NCP, also made fun of Ajit Pawar and the ministers who took the oath of office today by claiming that “nine MLAs cannot constitute a party.” NCP sources claim that Sharad Pawar gave the orders to submit the suit seeking the disqualification of nine MLAs, including Ajit Pawar.
The day after Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar switched and became the deputy chief minister of the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition, the party he created in 1999 saw a vertical split.
Eight additional NCP MLAs, including staunch Sharad Pawar supporters Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, were promoted to the position of minister.
“A complaint was made at our state disciplinary committee, after which a disqualification petition was filed with the assembly speaker by email. We will also submit the petition physically after a few hours. We have also submitted it on WhatsApp and iMessage. Also, we have urged the assembly speaker to hear it tomorrow at the earliest,” NCP President Jayant Patil said.
“One MLA sent a complaint to the party which was sent to the disciplinary committee of the party. On the basis of their report, we have filed the petition by email to the speaker. We will be sending a physical copy of the petition soon,” Jayant Patil said.
“We have also approached ECI to state that all the party workers of all ranks and from all districts are with Sharad Pawar. We all stand with Sharad pawar,” he said.
Attacking the ministers for their disobedience, Patil remarked “A party cannot have nine MLAs. They violated the party line by swearing an oath. They have taken an oath without the NCP chief’s consent. Technically, nine MLAs cannot participate in the party. Rahul Narvekar, speaker of the Assembly, is expected to grant us time as soon as feasible.”
Patil said these MLAs of the NCP “cannot be called traitors as their betrayal has not yet been proved”. “Many are in touch with us”, he said.
Meanwhile, NCP working president and his cousin Supriya Sule on Sunday said the developments in the party will not impact the Opposition’s unity. Ajit Pawar may have different views, but she can never fight with her elder brother and that she will always love him as a sister, she said.
