NCP Files Disqualification Petition Against Ajit Pawar, 8 MLAs After Rebellion

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has moved a disqualification petition from the assembly against rebels Ajit Pawar and eight others who ditched the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and took oath as ministers in the National Democratic Alliance or NDA government in Maharashtra led by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde following a mutiny that split the party.

The party has also moved the Election Commission stating that party workers from all districts stand firmly with the NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

The party founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 suffered a vertical split after his nephew Ajit Pawar jumed ship 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.

NCP leader Jayant Patilsaid the disqualification petition has been sent to Speaker Rahul Narvekar.

He said an e-mail has also been sent to the Election Commission of India informing that the rank and file of the NCP is with party chief Sharad Pawar.

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.

"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.

"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.