New Delhi/Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) witnessed a dramatic vertical split as Ajit Pawar, the nephew of party founder Sharad Pawar, joined the Maharashtra government as the Deputy Chief Minister. This move has left the party reeling and facing a major crisis.
Meeting at Ajit Pawar’s Home Sources revealed that a crucial meeting was held at Ajit Pawar’s residence to discuss the power-sharing formula. The allocation of ministries to Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs who switched to the Shinde-led government was the focal point of the discussion. To further complicate matters, Ajit Pawar, along with Chagan Bhujbal and Praful Patel, is currently meeting Devendra Fadnavis at his residence.
Disqualification Petition Filed The NCP wasted no time in taking action against the defectors. They filed a petition with the Speaker of the Maharashtra assembly, Rahul Narvekar, seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and the other eight party leaders who took oath as ministers in the Shiv Sena-BJP government. The petition argued that their actions of joining the opposing government amounted to voluntarily giving up NCP membership.
NCP Asserts Leadership In an effort to reaffirm its stance, the NCP has communicated to the Election Commission of India (EC) that Sharad Pawar remains the party’s head, and there has been no change in leadership. They have urged the poll body to consider their position before acting on any requests from Ajit Pawar’s camp.
Sharad Pawar’s Show of Strength Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar paid a visit to the memorial of his mentor and Maharashtra’s first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan in Satara district. This visit is seen as a show of strength following his nephew’s defection. Mr Pawar expressed determination in his fight against communal forces and vowed to rebuild the party.
Ajit Pawar Claims Support Ajit Pawar asserted that he enjoys the support of the vast majority of the NCP. He is also claiming ownership of the party’s name and symbol, mirroring Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s actions after the Shiv Sena split. BJP sources have indicated that Ajit Pawar has the backing of over 40 of NCP’s total 53 MLAs in the state assembly.
No Family Problems, Says Sharad Pawar In response to his nephew’s move, Sharad Pawar maintained that there are no issues within the family and that they do not discuss politics at home. He emphasized that everyone takes their own decisions.
Supriya Sule’s Perspective Supriya Sule, the working president of the NCP and Sharad Pawar’s daughter, expressed that the recent developments within the party will not affect the unity of the Opposition. She affirmed her love for Ajit Pawar as a sister and stated that despite differing views, they will not have a fight.
Congress Stands with Sharad Pawar The Congress party stands firmly with Sharad Pawar during these turbulent times in Maharashtra. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan praised Pawar’s political acumen and anticipated that he would put up a fight in the people’s court. In an effort to maintain unity, Chavan has called for a meeting of Congress legislators.
NCP Faces Vertical Split The NCP witnessed a vertical split when Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This move was followed by the induction of eight other NCP MLAs, including loyalists like Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, as ministers. The party now faces an uphill battle to regroup and recover from this setback.
The Impact and Road Ahead
The political landscape in Maharashtra has been shaken by Ajit Pawar’s decision to align with the ruling government. The NCP, a party founded by Sharad Pawar, now finds itself in disarray as it grapples with internal divisions. The coming days will be crucial as the party attempts to navigate this crisis and regain its footing. The actions taken by the NCP, including filing disqualification petitions and reaching out to the Election Commission, underscore its determination to counter the defection. On the other hand, Ajit Pawar is determined to prove his majority support within the party and solidify his position as the original NCP. As the situation unfolds, political observers are keenly watching the developments and assessing the implications for the larger political landscape in Maharashtra.
In conclusion, the political landscape in Maharashtra has been rocked by Ajit Pawar’s move to join the Maharashtra government, causing a vertical split within the NCP. With the party in crisis, Sharad Pawar and his loyalists are rallying to counter the defection and rebuild the party. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar is asserting his claim to the NCP’s name and symbol while emphasizing his support within the party. The coming days will determine the course of action and the future of the NCP in Maharashtra politics.
