Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar chaired a crucial national executive meeting today, approving the decision of expelling Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare and nine other MLAs who joined hands with the NDA. Sharad Pawar reiterated that he is the president of the party and that the organisation is still intact
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar chaired a crucial national executive meeting today, approving the decision of expelling Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare and nine other MLAs who joined hands with the NDA. The working committee of the party further expressed "full faith in the president of the party, Sharad Pawar."
"Our organisation is still intact and we are with Sharad Pawar," said NCP leader P C Chacko after the meeting. The group passed a total of eight resolutions. "Sharad Pawar was elected national president; we don't take seriously claims of someone being national president," Chacko said.
"Today's meeting helped boost our morale...I am the president of NCP," Sharad Pawar reiterated after the meeting, adding that he is still effective, "whether I am 82 or 92."
The rebel faction of the Nationalist Congress Party passed a resolution on June 30 electing Ajit Pawar as the President of the party, thereby ousting Sharad Pawar from the post, the faction said in an affidavit to the Election Commission of India. The resolution was reportedly passed just two days before Ajit Pawar's big switch.
Hinting at Sharad Pawar's retirement, Ajit Pawar had said that, "In other parties, leaders retire after an age. In BJP, leaders retire at 75, when are you going to stop? You should also give new people a chance. If we make mistakes, tell us. Your age is 83, will you ever stop or not? You give us blessings."
Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar faction challenged the authority of Sharad Pawar to call a meeting of the national executive committee of the NCP, saying he (Sharad Pawar) is no longer the head of the party. "Sharad Pawar has 'no legal sanctity whatsoever' and has no valid legal basis and shall not be binding on anyone in the party," a statement issued by NCP (Ajit Pawar) said.
The statement said Ajit Pawar has also filed a petition before the Election Commission stating that he represents the real NCP and therefore, the name of the party along with the symbol be granted to him.
(This is a developing story. More details are awaited.)