NCP files disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar, 8 others after rebellion

After NCP leader Ajit Pawar and a handful of MLAs took oath and joined the Eknath Shinde government, plunging the NCP into a crisis.

The party filed a disqualification petition with the assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar. The party has also approached the Election Commission stating that party workers from all districts stand firmly with the NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil on Sunday said his party has moved a disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and eight others who took oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led state government.

NCP President Jayant Patil also took a jibe at Ajit Pawar and ministers who took oath today by saying that “nine MLAs cannot be a party”. According to sources in the NCP, the petition for disqualification for nine MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, has been filed after instructions from Sharad Pawar.

The party founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 suffered a vertical split during the day after his nephew Ajit Pawar broke ranks and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as deputy chief minister.

Eight other NCP MLAs, including staunch Sharad Pawar loyalists like Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, were made ministers.

“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.

Hitting out at the ministers for rebellion, Patil said, “9 MLAs cannot be a party. The oath taken by them is against the party’s line. They have taken an oath without the permission of the NCP chief. 9 MLAs are technically disqualified from the party. We expect that Assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar will give us time as soon as possible.”

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.