Sharad Pawar Leaves It To Election Commission To Decide Real NCP But Questions Ajit Pawar's Approach

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar presided over a meeting of the party's working committee on Thursday (6 July).

The committee expressed unwavering faith and confidence in Pawar and endorsed his decision to expel "Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and nine NCP MLAs who aligned with the BJP."

On Sunday, Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the Maharashtra government.

Pawar, asserting his position as NCP president, stated that mere statements made by others hold no significance. He declared his determination to work even more effectively regardless of his age, be it 82 or 92.

The working committee meeting, in accordance with the party constitution, took place at his residence, where he expressed the intention to rebuild the party.

Pawar expressed full trust in the Election Commission and expressed doubts about the need to explore legal options. He commented on Ajit Pawar's alleged approach to the EC on 30 June, questioning the delay of five days

Reportedly, the EC received about 40 affidavits dated 30 June from NCP MPs, MLAs and MLCs expressing support for Ajit Pawar on Wednesday.

Dismissing claims from the rival camp regarding support from two-thirds of the MLAs, Pawar emphasized that the EC would decide. However, he acknowledged the support of the people.

The working committee, during the two-hour meeting, adopted an eight-point resolution empowering Pawar to take necessary action against those acting against the party's ethics, guidelines, principles, policies, and ideology, which harm the party's interests.

PC Chacko, a senior party leader, confirmed that the working committee enjoys support from the party's 27 state units. Almost all state unit chiefs attended the meeting, with five sending their support through letters.

In a display of support, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Sharad Pawar at his residence on the same day.