NCP Factional Clash: Sharad Pawar & Ajit Pawar Battle for Majority Support

Mumbai: Two significant meetings of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are currently taking place in Mumbai, with factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar vying to demonstrate majority support among the 53 MLAs. The breakaway group led by Ajit Pawar, who became the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is holding their meeting in Bandra, while the meeting of Sharad Pawar’s faction is underway in Nariman Point.

Claiming the support of 42 MLAs, Ajit Pawar’s faction showcased 31 MLAs to assert their strength. On the other hand, 13 MLAs are present at the meeting led by Sharad Pawar at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. During his address, Ajit Pawar asserted that some MLAs from the Sharad Pawar camp are in contact with him.

The 13 MLAs present at the YB Chavan Centre include Anil Deshmukh, Rohit Pawar, Rajendra Shingne, Ashok Pawar, Kiran Lahmate, Prajakta Tanpure, Balasaheb Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Chetan Vithal Tupe, Jayant Patil, Rajesh Tope, Sandeep Kshirsagar, and Devendra Bhuyar.

While the NCP has 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly, 11 MLAs are not present at either of the meetings. Earlier, the breakaway faction collected affidavits from party workers to demonstrate their loyalty to Ajit Pawar.

Ahead of the meetings, banners were displayed outside Sharad Pawar’s residence, urging people to support the “83-year-old warrior fighting alone.” Despite Sharad Pawar’s request to refrain from doing so, the Ajit Pawar camp also used his photo.

The dispute over the NCP’s party name and symbol is expected to be brought before the Election Commission. The faction led by Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister, is considering approaching the Election Commission after the crucial meeting. Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has filed a caveat with the poll body, requesting a hearing before any decision is made regarding the party name and symbol.

The NCP split when Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs rebelled against party founder Sharad Pawar and joined the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde on July 2. Subsequently, a fierce power struggle ensued within the NCP, with rival factions seeking to strengthen their control over the organization and seeking disqualification of lawmakers from opposing camps.