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In a significant development, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar proclaimed on Thursday, February 15, that the Ajit Pawar faction is the “true” Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Narwekar justified his decision by citing the factor of legislative majority, dealing yet another blow to veteran leader Sharad Pawar and his supporters.
The decision comes amidst a bitter factional feud within the NCP, which split in July last year when a faction led by Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar to align with the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government. Ajit Pawar assumed the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra upon joining the government.
With 44 legislators in its fold, the Ajit Pawar-led faction commands a substantial majority among NCP MLAs in Maharashtra, while only 9 MLAs support Sharad Pawar’s faction. The split prompted both sides to lay claims to the party name and symbol.
Earlier this month, the Election Commission recognized the Ajit Pawar faction as the “real” NCP and allotted it the party’s “clock” symbol. In contrast, the Sharad Pawar faction was designated the new one-time name of “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar.”
However, Sharad Pawar has contested the EC’s decision in the Supreme Court, challenging the recognition of Ajit Pawar’s faction as the legitimate NCP. In response, the Ajit Pawar side filed a caveat last week, ensuring its right to be heard before the apex court makes any decisions regarding the dispute.
The ongoing legal battle underscores the deep-rooted tensions within the NCP and the broader political landscape of Maharashtra, with the repercussions of the split reverberating across the state’s political arena.
