Ajit Pawar Slams Sharad Pawar's National Executive Meet As 'Illegitimate' As Praful Patel, Other Rebels Expelled

Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) national executive meeting in Delhi has received a strong backlash from rebel nephew Ajit Pawar and his faction, who claim that the meeting holds no legal significance.

During the meeting, the expulsion of Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and nine MLAs was approved by the attending leaders.

The leaders after the National Executive meeting stated "All the 27 state units are with Sharad Pawar all have come out in his support, including the state unit in Maharashtra."

Sharad Pawar said after the meeting "I am the president of NCP, if someone says (that he is the president) then it is completely false, there's no truth in it. There's no importance if someone (Ajit Pawar) says something."

The Ajit Pawar faction in a statement emphasized that the dispute over who represents the true Nationalist Congress Party falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Election Commission and no one within the party has the authority to call for any meetings until the dispute is resolved by the ECI.

Sources have indicated that Sharad Pawar will seek legal advice and consult with party leaders to determine the best course of action.

Meanwhile, the rebel faction leaders are also in Delhi, although they are not present at the party office where emotional posters in support of the 83-year-old founder of NCP have been put up.

The Ajit Pawar faction claims that they declared him as the party leader on June 30, a few days before his surprising decision to join the ruling alliance.

They have formally informed the Election Commission and submitted affidavits from 40 party leaders, including MPs, MLAs, and MLCs, who were present during the declaration.

Based on this claim, Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Sunday and has requested the Nationalist Congress Party name and symbol from the poll panel.

However, in order for the Commission to consider his claim, Ajit Pawar needs the support of 36 MLAs, which represents a two-thirds majority of the party's 53 legislators.

Currently, he appears to have the backing of 32 MLAs, who have been kept sequestered in a Mumbai hotel until this morning.

The signed affidavits from Ajit Pawar's supporters have already been submitted to the Election Commission.

In Mumbai on Wednesday, the two factions of the NCP held separate meetings. Ajit Pawar emerged victorious over his uncle as only 14 of the party's legislators attended Sharad Pawar's meeting.

Meanwhile, 32 MLAs attended the rebel gathering, where Ajit Pawar expressed his desire to become the Chief Minister and questioned his uncle about his retirement plans.

Ajit Pawar asked "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?"