NCP Factional War Now Reaches Election Commission

The factional war to take control over the Nationalist Congress Party and the party symbol has now reached the Election Commission.

The Election Commission of India has received a petition from Ajit Pawar staking claim to Nationalist Congress Party and party symbol. The commission has also received a caveat from Jayant Patil that they have initiated a disqualification process against nine MLAs, ANI reported citing sources.

The Ajit camp has filed over 40 affidavits of MLAs and MPs in his support with the Election Commission, which is likely to process applications in the coming days and ask both sides to exchange the respective documents submitted before it, according to a report in PTI.

The party was founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999. It went for a split on Sunday with Ajit, claiming the support of over 40 MLAs and joining the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra.

Nine NCP MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, were sworn in as ministers in the Maharashtra government at a surprise cabinet expansion on Sunday.

Ajit Pawar, with senior party leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil by his side, asserted to be the real NCP.

Sharad Pawar also asserted to be the real NCP, and expelled Patel and Lok Sabha member Sunil Tatkare from the party.

It had also written to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking to disqualify the nine MLAs who were sworn in as ministers on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 35 out of 53 NCP MLAs attended the party meeting called by Ajit Pawar on Wednesday while 13 MLAs attended another meeting called by Sharad Pawar.

The Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party held their meetings in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in south Mumbai and in Bhujbal Knowledge City in suburban Bandra, respectively.

Speaking at the occasion, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar attacked his uncle Sharad Pawar saying he is now too aged to continue as the NCP chief.

He said, "You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar)...But you tell me, IAS officers retire at 60...even in politics - BJP leaders retire at 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi...That allows the new generation to rise...You (Sharad Pawar) give us your blessings....The other day, he went to YB Chavan memorial...I have also been there...but you are 83, aren't you going to stop?..Give us your blessings and we will pray that you live a long life."