NCP coup
NCP coup: Rebel faction declares own 'group', announces Ajit Pawar as leader
Mumbai: The rebel group of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Monday followed the example set by the breakaway Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and declared its own "group" as well as "state unit" leaders.
The rebel faction also "sacked" Jayant Patil, the state chief of the faction led by Sharad Pawar and declared Ajit Pawar as the "Group Leader" of the party.
On being asked who is the party's national president, the "Group Leader" responded that "Sharad Pawar is the national president" adding more complexities to the issue.
"We request Sharad Pawar to accept the decision of the majority in the party. We want his blessings," said Praful Patel, who was sacked from the NCP a short while ago.
"If there's any issue within the party, the Election Commission of India decides who has the party and symbol," Ajit Pawar added.
Earlier in the day, Sharad Pawar warned rebel MLAs that the party would show them their places.
"The NCP would show these MLAs their places. Maharashtrians would answer those who split the NCP," said Pawar, addressing a gathering at the Priti-Sangam memorial of Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwant Rao Chavan at Karad of Satara district.
He said the late Yashwant Rao Chavan had created a new generation of politicians in the state by backing the youths in every district of the state and ensuring development.
Pawar's comments came a day after nine NCP legislators led by his nephew and senior leader Ajit Pawar engineered a split in the party and joined the NDA ministry of chief minister Eknath Shinde.
Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister in the presence of several senior party leaders including Sharad Pawar's longtime confidant Praful Patel.
Jayant Patil late on Sunday night said that a disqualification petition was filed with the assembly speaker by mail against 9 MLAs, including Ajit Pawar after they acted against the party interest and joined the Shinde-Fadnavis government.
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