Maharashtra political crisis: While addressing a press conference in the national capital today (July 6), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said that he believes in the Election Commission of India (ECI) amid the political crisis in Maharashtra.
"We believe in the Election Commission of India, if we have to say something then we will go to ECI," said Sharad Pawar after the party's national executive meeting in Delhi.
Pawar further added that he is still the president of NCP.
"I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92," said Sharad Pawar after the party's National Executive meeting in Delhi while responding to recent remarks made by his nephew, Ajit Pawar who took a veiled swipe at his age.
Ajit Pawar's comment stirred discontent among party members and loyalists, triggering a series of reactions. Ajit Pawar had indirectly blamed Sharad Pawar, who is 82 years old, for the NCP's missed opportunity to have a Chief Minister in Maharashtra despite having the support of a majority of MLAs in 2014. Asserting that he is still the president of the party Sharad Pawar added that "I am the president of NCP."
"Today's meeting helped boost our morale...I am the president of NCP," he said as he presided over a crucial national executive meeting in New Delhi.
While sources revealed that Election Commission has received a petition from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar staking claim to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the party symbol. The sources said the Election Commission has also received a caveat from Jayant Patil, who is with the Sharad Pawar group. He also informed the panel that they have initiated a disqualification process against nine MLAs who joined the Eknath Shinde-BJP government in the state on Sunday.
The politics of Maharashtra is on the boil since Sunday as senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister of the state. Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government with 8 other MLAs and has claimed control over the Nationalist Congress Party.
Earlier, in the day Sharad Pawar called the party's National Executive meeting in Delhi.
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