NCP Power Tussle: Show Of Strength By Both Pawar Factions At Separate Meetings In Maharashtra

The two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar respectively, sent out separate whips for two meetings on Wednesday. Atleast 35 MLAs and five MLCs are present at the meeting called by Ajit Pawar. NCP leader (Ajit Pawar faction) Chhagan Bhujbal said, "More than 40 MLAs and MLCs are with us. We have done all the due diligence before taking the oath. We did not take the oath just like that". 

The Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the NCP are holding their meetings in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in south Mumbai and in Bhujbal Knowledge City in suburban Bandra, respectively.

Here are some key points of the two meetings today:

1. A key meeting was called in Mumbai on Wednesday by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction as they issued a whip to all Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to attend it. Meanwhile, the other faction led by Ajit Pawar also called a meeting for all party legislators on the same day. 

2. Reports said that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Jitendra Awhad issued a one-line whip on Tuesday that said the meeting has been called by the chief himself at 1 PM at the YB Chavan Centre on July 5. It also mentioned that the presence of the MLAs is mandatory. 

3. After Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde government on July 2 with eight other MLAs, Sharad Pawar made Jitendra Awhad Maharashtra Leader of NCP.  Jitendra Awhad reached YB Chavan Centre and reportedly said, "We will see what happens at 1 pm. More leaders will come." Flowers were showered as NCP chief Sharad Pawar reached YB Cha van Centre and several NCP leaders gather to receive him.

4. According to the reports, the notice issued by the Ajit Pawar camp requested all current and former legislators, parliamentarians, office-bearers, working committee members and others to join a meeting on Wednesday which will be convened by Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra unit president appointed by the group, at the MET institute's premises in suburban Bandra. The notice was issued by Shivajirao Garje, who has been expelled by the Sharad Pawar-led party for "indulging in anti-party activities".

5. Reports confirmed that NCP leaders Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal arrive at the MET institute premises for the meeting with Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar has unfurled a party flag before the meeting started while Praful Patel reportedly said, "We have everyone with us."

6. Several supporters met Ajit Pawar at his residence on Wednesday morning, according to the reports.

#WATCH | Supporters of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar met him at his Devgiri Bungalow in Mumbai before the NCP leaders meeting called by Ajit Pawar. pic.twitter.com/hbR83kmlWH

— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2023

7. During the meeting at Ajit Pawar's faction, party leader Chhagan Bhujbal aimed at the accusations made by other opposition parties that they joined the Bharatiya Janata Party alliance only to get rid of the numerous cases against them and said, "We are being accused of coming here (with Ajit Pawar) for fear of legal cases. This is not correct. Dhananjay Munde, Dilip Walse Patil and Ramraje Nimbalkar have no cases against them. There are several other people who have no cases against them but are still here. We are here only because there are some close aides around you Saheb (Sharad Pawar), they are out to finish the party. We are ready to come back to you once you sideline them. We will come back to you then."

8. The Ajit Pawar faction asked for the disqualification of state NCP president Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad as MLAs to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.

9. Ajit Pawar was appointed as the leader of the NCP legislature party by NCP working president Praful Patel. Patel was sacked from NCP by chief Sharad Pawar on Monday. Meanwhile, Anil Bhaidas Patil will remain in the party as the whip in the Assembly, he also took oath as minister on July 2 along with Ajit Pawar. 

10. The NCP led by Sharad Pawar has moved a petition before Speaker Narwekar, seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government.

The NCP has 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.