The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has filed a disqualification petition against nine MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, with the assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar in Maharashtra. This move comes after Ajit Pawar and eight other party leaders joined the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in a surprising and dramatic political move.
Jayant Patil, an NCP leader, stated that they have submitted a disqualification petition against the nine leaders who left the party without informing anyone, which goes against the NCP’s principles. Patil also mentioned that they have sent a letter to the Election Commission of India, expressing their disapproval of the defections.
However, Patil remains hopeful that most of the MLAs will eventually return to the NCP and that they will be accepted back into the party. This unexpected turn of events, reminiscent of the split in the Shiv Sena last year, saw Ajit Pawar being sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with eight other NCP legislators joining the National Democratic Alliance government.
Ajit Pawar expressed confidence in having the support of all the MLAs and declared that they have joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as a party. He emphasized the importance of numbers and democracy, stating that their party is 24 years old and that young leadership should come forward. He also mentioned that additional ministers would be added in the next expansion.
The Governor of Maharashtra, Ramesh Bais, administered the oath to Ajit Pawar as the Deputy Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Supriya Sule, NCP’s working president and MP, admitted that Ajit Pawar’s decision to join the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra Government was painful but reassured that her relationship with him would remain unchanged.
Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief, acknowledged Ajit Pawar’s move as his own decision and point of view. However, he expressed concern for the future of those who left the party and labeled the situation as a robbery rather than a googly.
This unexpected political shift has caused upheaval in Maharashtra politics, with the NCP taking action to challenge the defections. It remains to be seen if the nine leaders will reconsider their decision and return to the NCP, or if they will continue on their path with the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. The situation highlights the challenges and dynamics of party politics, where loyalty and shifting alliances play a significant role.
