Article:
Ajit Pawar, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and nephew of party president Sarath Pawar, made a surprising move on June 3 by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance along with 40 supporting MLAs. This unexpected development has caused a major division within the NCP.
On the same day, Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and eight MLAs from his party were appointed as ministers. This move has been seen as a significant blow to Sarath Pawar, who has accused his nephew of creating a split in the party.
In response, the Nationalist Congress Party, backed by Sarath Pawar, has declared that all those who joined the BJP alliance as ministers will be removed from the party. They have also filed a petition with the Maharashtra Speaker requesting the disqualification of these ministers under the Anti-Defection Act.
The division within the NCP is causing further confusion, as Ajit Pawar has opened a new office opposite Mantralaya in Mumbai. With the party leadership in question, the administrators and volunteers of the party are finding it challenging to navigate the conflicting orders coming from the two leaders.
Adding to the chaos, Ajit Pawar’s side has announced their intention to remove Maharashtra state president Jayant Patil and replace him with MP Sunil Tadkar as the new state president. This power struggle within the party is further deepening the divide.
In an attempt to address the situation, the Nationalist Congress Party’s Executive President and Member of Parliament, Prabul Patel, spoke to the media. He stated, “Ajit Pawar has been appointed as the Legislative Committee Chairman of the Nationalist Congress. Meanwhile, Anil Patil, who was recently sworn in as a minister, will serve as the party whip of the assembly.”
Furthermore, Patel revealed that it was a unanimous decision by the Nationalist Congress Party to support the government led by Eknath Shinde and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added, “We seek the blessings of Nationalist Congress President Sharad Pawar in our actions.”
As the NCP grapples with internal conflicts and power struggles, the future of the party remains uncertain. Both Sarath Pawar and Ajit Pawar hold significant sway within the party, and their actions and decisions will have a lasting impact on its direction.