NCP crisis highlights | ‘…nothing can happen without me’: Sharad Pawar

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached his official residence Varsha Bungalow here on Wednesday evening to chair a meeting with Shiv Sena leaders.

Shinde is expected to discuss the entry of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction into the government.

Earlier in the day, both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party held simultaneous meetings, in a test of their strengths.

(ANI)

The recent merger with the rebel Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs has not gone down well with Shiv Sena leaders from Eknath Shinde camp, more so after when Ajit Pawar expressed his desire to become the next chief minister of Maharashtra. The incumbent chief minister is also likely to feel the heat after Ajit's urge to rise up the power ladder.

Sena leaders are expressing their discontent after the Ajit Pawar-led split within NCP, fearing they would lose out on the opportunity to get a desired position in the Maharashtra cabinet.

Pointing at the retirement age, the newly-appointed deputy chief minister urged Sharad Pawar to pass on the baton to the new generation. He also expressed his desire to become the next Maharashtra CM to “implement certain plans I have for people's welfare.”

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The bitter battle for control over the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) took another surprise turn as the rebel faction, led by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, claimed that Sharad Pawar is no longer the party president. An affidavit submitted to the Election Commission by the rebel camp states that a resolution electing Ajit Pawar as NCP's national president was signed by an “overwhelming majority” of MLAs as well as members of the organisational wing, reported ANI.

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Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the use of the name and symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following a split in the party founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, people familiar with the matter said. Read here to find out more

Countering Ajit Pawar's swipes at his uncle Sharad Pawar over his advanced age, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad on Wednesday said Pawar senior was not going to stop just because some people were asking him to do so. Ajit Pawar, who has rebelled against his uncle, asked in his speech at his faction's meeting in the morning when would Sharad Pawar, who is 82 years old, "going to stop". 

Awhad, who is among the MLAs in Sharad Pawar's camp, said at a press conference that an able son always encourages his father to remain active. "But here you people are asking him to sit at home. All we want to say is, he will not sit at home," he said. "Whatever he (Ajit) has to say against me, I will not make any comment. But my objection is to his asking Pawar to retire," Awhad, a former Maharashtra minister, further said.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who is battling a crisis in the party triggered by his nephew Ajit Pawar joining the Shinde-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra, held a meeting of its members on Wednesday at YB Chavan Auditorium in Mumbai to show the strength.

On the other hand, state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting of NCP MPs, MLAs, MLCs, district heads and state delegates at Mumbai Education Trust (MET) Bandra. The parallel meetings came after the two factions announced crucial appointments to assert their control over the party.

A total of 13 MLAs, 3 MLCs and 5 MPs were present at party founder Sharad Pawar-led meeting at YB Chavan centre in Mumbai on Wednesday.

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Countering Ajit Pawar's swipes at his uncle Sharad Pawar over his advanced age, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad on Wednesday said Pawar senior was not going to stop just because some people were asking him to do so. 

Ajit Pawar, who has rebelled against his uncle, asked in his speech at his faction's meeting in the morning when would Sharad Pawar, who is 82 years old, "going to stop". 

Awhad, who is among the MLAs in Sharad Pawar's camp, said at a press conference that an able son always encourages his father to remain active. 

"But here you people are asking him to sit at home. All we want to say is, he will not sit at home," he said. 

"Whatever he (Ajit) has to say against me, I will not make any comment. But my objection is to his asking Pawar to retire," Awhad, a former Maharashtra minister, further said.

(PTI)

Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may be replaced in the coming days in the wake of NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joining the National Democratic Alliance government.

"The chief minister of Maharashtra may be changed in the coming days," he told ANI.

Taking potshots at the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis Government, he said there are two Deputy CMs and even the Chief Minister is not full but "doubtful". "There is a phrase. One full and two half," he said in a lighter vein.

(ANI)

Sharad Pawar addressing the party workers on Wednesday, “In all the party meetings that are happening today, my portrait is there. Even in the Mumbai meeting, they (Ajit Pawar faction) have put up my portrait. They know that nothing can happen without me.”

NCP chief Sharad Pawar calls party's national executive meeting in Delhi tomorrow, reports ANI. 

BJP spokesperson KK Sharma said on Wednesday, “Sharad Pawar should not talk about ‘ideology’ and 'unholy alliance'. He has a vast political experience and has himself been associated with many such alliances in the past.”

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra said on Twitter on Wednesday, “You felt like laughing did you? Well, we feel like laughing at you pathetic traitors who betray cause after ED confiscates properties & jalaoed a beedi under you. It will be Indian democracy vs BJP in 2024. Let’s see who has last laugh then.”

The AIMIM has suspended 23 workers, including six former corporators from Aurangabad, for not participating in a protest organised by the party in view of NCP leader Ajit Pawar's induction in the Maharashtra cabinet, a release said on Wednesday.

The suspended workers were holding different posts in the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Aurangabad unit. According to the AIMIM release, 23 workers didn't attend the demonstration staged at Bhadkal Gate led by party MP Imtiaz Jaleel on Sunday night. The letter of suspension has been signed by Aurangabad city AIMIM president Shareq Nakshabandi.

(PTI)

The affidavit filed in the Election Commission of India by Ajit Pawar faction stated, “A Resolution dated 30th June 2023 signed by overwhelming majority of members of NCP, both from the legislative and organisational wing was passed thereby electing Ajit Anantrao Pawar as the President of NCP. Praful Patel was and continues to be one of the working presidents of NCP. The NCP also decided to appoint Ajit Pawar as the leader of NCP Legislative Party in the Maharashtra Legislative assembly and the said decision was also ratified by the resolution passed by an overwhelming majority of NCP MLAs.”

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appeared to be ahead in number game with more NCP MLAs supporting him than his uncle and party president Sharad Pawar as the warring factions held their separate meetings on Wednesday to show their strength, escalating the battle between them to control the outfit. 

As many as 32 of the 53 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs attended the meeting called by the Ajit Pawar group, while 18 MLAs were present at the conclave addressed by the NCP chief, sources in both factions said. 

Addressing separate meetings, their first after the July 2 split in the 24-year-old party, Sharad Pawar criticised his nephew Ajit Pawar for joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government as they took jibe at each other over the former's age and use of his photo.

(PTI)

NCP working president Praful Patel on Wednesday said he felt like laughing after watching the scene at the recent meeting of 17 opposition parties in Patna. 

“I went to the joint opposition meeting in Patna with Sharad Pawar, and I felt like laughing when I saw the scene there,” Patel said while addressing a meeting of NCP convened by Ajit Pawar in Mumbai. 

“There were 17 opposition parties there, and seven of them have only one MP in Lok Sabha. There was one party that has zero MPs. They claim they will bring change,” he said. Patel said the country wants to know why he has sided with Ajit Pawar. “I will respond to this query at an appropriate time,” he added. 

When the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray was on the verge of collapse last year, all NCP legislators and ministers had requested Sharad Pawar to go with the BJP, he said.

(PTI)

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday warned the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the party that every single ally of the BJP has eventually faced "political destruction" and they will meet the same fate. 

Pawar senior was speaking at a party meeting organised here to show his strength after his nephew Ajit revolted against him and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra along with eight other NCP MLAs on Sunday. 

“Those who join hands with the BJP and share power get politically destroyed eventually. To steadily weaken its political allies is the BJP's policy. There are enough examples of this in other states," Sharad Pawar said.

(PTI)

Sharad Pawar loyalist NCP MLC Eknath Khadse said, “I think this enthusiasm of workers will help our MLAs & MPs get elected in the time to come. We can definitely win. When BJP can go from two to 300, why can't we do it?”

Supriya Sule, working NCP president, speaking to NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) workers, said, “They called the Nationalist Congress Party the 'Naturally Corrupt Party'... But when in need they take help from NCP. BJP is the most corrupt party and its not just me but others as well who are saying this. BJP made allegations about a ₹70,000 crore scam, bank scam and many more. Someone told me 'NCP Ka ICE ho gya'- ICE stands for Income Tax, CBI and ED.”

Sharad Pawar's grand nephew Rohit Pawar said, “When we entered politics in 2019 and contested the Vidhan Sabha election, Pawar Saheb was 82. Most of us were elected due to him. So, I don't think age matters much. It is not as if existing MLAs alone are needed to win election, candidates are needed for it...This incident might give strength to a lot of people. Let's see.”

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Wednesday took a swipe at his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar urging him to step down and give a chance to the new generation stating that even leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retire at the age of 75.

The junior Pawar also blamed the 82-year-old Sharad Pawar for NCP losing out on the chance to have a chief minister of Maharashtra despite having the support of a majority of MLAs in the year 2014.

"You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar)...But you tell me, IAS officers retire at 60...even in politics - BJP leaders retire at 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi...That allows the new generation to rise..."

(ANI)

"82 saal ka sher abhi bhi zinda hai," says Sharad Pawar loyalist Anil Deshmukh on Ajit Pawar's "retirement" remark for Sharad Pawar

NCP MLAs with who are with party president Sharad Pawar sign affidavits to show their loyalty towards him, in Mumbai.

(ANI)

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday objected to his big photo adorning the stage at a parallel meeting of the party convened by his nephew Ajit Pawar, and said those using his image are aware that they have nothing else. 

Addressing a meeting at Chavan Centre in south Mumbai, where around a dozen of 53 NCP MLAs were present, 83-year-old Pawar criticised his nephew for going with BJP for power, despite PM Narendra Modi calling NCP a corrupt party.

(PTI)

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, along with NCP leaders of his faction, leaves for a hotel in a bus following party meeting held at MET Bandra in Mumbai earlier today.

(PTI)