New Delhi: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and MLAs loyal to him have approached the Election Commission (EC), claiming the symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The EC received 40 affidavits of MPs, MLAs and MLCs supporting the resolution that “unanimously elected” Ajit Pawar as the NCP president, two days before he and his group revolted.
Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led faction has written to the Commission, informing about the disqualification of nine rebel MLAs, ThePrint has learnt
While the EC is yet to take any action, sources in the Commission said further action will be taken as per “extant legal framework”.
The two factions have been at war with each other, after Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government on 2 July. While the numbers were not clear at the time of oath, Ajit and eight other rebel MLAs joined the government as ministers.
On Wednesday, both factions organised a meeting in Mumbai, calling on party leaders as a show of strength.
According to NCP leaders, at least 32 MLAs attended the meeting organised by the Ajit Pawar faction while Sharad Pawar’s faction drew 17 MLAs and one Independent legislator.
A petition has also been filed by Ajit Pawar for recognition of his faction as the real NCP under Para 15 of The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
“When the Commission is satisfied on information in its possession that there are rival sections or groups of a recognised political party each of whom claims to be that party, the Commission may, after taking into account all the available facts and circumstances of the case and hearing such representatives of the sections or groups and other persons as desire to be heard, decide that one such rival section or group or none of such rival sections or groups is that recognised political party and the decision of the Commission shall be binding on all such rival sections or groups,” reads Para 15.
NCP state chief files caveat
While the petition from Ajit Pawar and affidavits from elected representatives were filed on 30 June, three days later the Election commission received an email from Jayant R. Patil, president of Maharashtra NCP. Patil wrote the email “filing caveat” on behalf of Sharad Pawar faction, said an EC source.
Patil informed the poll panel that the party had disqualified nine rebel MLAs, including Ajit Pawar. “The Commission is also in receipt of a letter dated 3 July from Jayant R Patil informing that disqualification proceeding has been filed before the competent authority for disqualification of 9 members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly,” said the source.
The NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly where the BJP is the single largest party with 106 MLAs. While it has five MPs in the Lok Sabha, Sharad Pawar and three others represent the NCP in the Rajya Sabha.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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