Majority Support Determines Party Representation, Says Senior Leader of Ajit Pawar Group Amidst NCP Split

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split on July 2 after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government. A senior leader from the Ajit Pawar group stated that their faction has majority support with 43 MLAs in Maharashtra and six out of nine MLCs.

In a recent development in the internal conflict within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), senior leader of the Ajit Pawar group has stated that key appointments made prior to June 30 were not according to NCP's constitution. He further argued that the Election Commission should decide which faction represents the party based on electoral majority.

Split in NCP

The split within NCP occurred on July 2 when Ajit Pawar along with eight other MLAs joined hands with Eknath Shinde government. Since then, both factions - one led by Ajit Pawar and another led by party founder Sharad Pawar have claimed representation for the party. Each side has appointed functionaries while deeming those appointed by their counterpart as illegal. They have also filed petitions seeking disqualification of elected representatives from each other's groups.

Claiming Majority

Praful Patel, working president of NCP as per the Ajit Pawar group, informed reporters about having support from 43 MLAs in Maharashtra and six out of nine MLCs. "While we believe in the principle of majority, it should be noted that the party can function only within its own constitutional parameters," Patel said.

Unconstitutional Appointments

Patel went on to claim that no internal elections were held according to NCP's constitution hence making all appointments before June 30 unconstitutional. This statement is significant because it challenges all key positions established before this date and potentially opens up a new front in their ongoing feud.

Election Commission’s Role

The argument put forth by Patel implies that Election Commission must step into this matter and decide which faction truly represents NCP based on electoral majority rather than appointments or claims made by either side. This could lead to an official review of the party's internal structure and election processes.

In conclusion, the ongoing power struggle within NCP has taken a new turn with Ajit Pawar group challenging the constitutionality of appointments made before June 30. The faction demands that Election Commission should decide on representation based on electoral majority. This development could potentially trigger a comprehensive examination of NCP’s internal functioning and election procedures by Election Commission. As both sides continue to claim their legitimacy, it remains to be seen how this political drama unfolds in the coming days.