Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 6: After the Ajit Pawar faction won the first round of the battle in respect of number of Maharashtra MLAs joining his camp, the Sharad Pawar faction claims to have stolen the march on Thursday with the organisational wing of the Nationalist Congress Party solidly backing the veteran leader.
A meeting of the national executive of the party convened by Sr Pawar in Delhi on Thursday evening is claimed to have been attended by seven of the 12 elected representatives and 10 of the 15 permanent invitees besides most of the office-bearers. The party general secretary PC Chako said among the absentee elected representatives and permanent invitees at Thursday’s meeting were those who have been suspended from the party for rebellion and a few other had could not remain present due to the short notice given for the meeting had in writing consented their support for Sharad Pawar. In addition, all the 27 state level units are also with Sharad Pawar.
Sr Pawar refuted his nephew’ claim that he was “elected” the party president on June 30, two days before he took oath as the deputy chief minister, and therefore the meeting convened by Sharad Pawar on Thursday was “illegal” and have no consequences. Sharad Pawar asserted that he continued to be the “president” of the party and Ajit Pawar’s claim was “false and totally untrue.” Sharad Pawar has also written to the election body, objecting to Ajit Pawar’s claim for party symbol.
Thursday’s executive meeting also ratified the expulsion of nine MLAs, including Aiit Pawar, two MPs Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, and senior leader SR Kohli, who had sided with the Ajit Pawar camp. The meeting also authorised Sharad Pawar to take disciplinary action against any other party member indulging in anti-party activities now or in future.
The Ajit Pawar faction said the dispute on who represents the real Nationalist Congress Party was “within the exclusive jurisdiction” of the Election Commission and till it decided the issue no one can call “any meeting.”
Sharad Pawar has written to the Election Commission, questioning why he was not informed about his nephew staling claim for the party symbol. The Commission, he said, was expected to inform him about his nephew’s petition in view of the caveat he filed. Sources indicated that Pawar Senior will take legal advice and confer with party leaders about the way ahead. Leaders of the rebel faction are also in Delhi, but away from the party office here emotive posters supporting the 83-yer-old founder of NCP has come up.
After the meeting, Sharad Pawar responded to Ajit Pawar’s retirement jibe and said he would be effective, whether he is 82 or 92. He further said he would work with more energy to rebuild the party and make whirlwind tours for the purpose. He said whatever has to be said about the political situation and party split would be said before the Election Commission only.
Posters calling Ajit Pawar and leaders who rebelled along with him, leading to a split in the NCP, ‘traitors’ emerged. This is the second time in a year that a Maha Vikas Aghadi constituent is facing a split, with the Shiv Sena having split in June last year after CM Eknath Shinde’s rebellion.
Asserting that he was the president of the NCP, Sr Pawar said, “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.”
Ajit Pawar, who took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Sunday, has staked claim for the Nationalist Congress Party name and symbol with the poll panel. But he needs 36 MLAs, a 2/3rd majority of the party’s total 53 legislators, before the Commission considers his claim. So far, he appears to have the support of 32 MLAs while only 29 showed up in Wednesday’s meeting in Mumbai while Sharad Pawar camp had 17 MLAs.
Ajit Pawar supporting MLAs were kept corralled at a Mumbai hotel till this morning. Yesterday, several MLAs who signed up with the rebel faction had a change of heart. The signed affidavits of Ajit Pawar’s supporters have already been sent to the Election Commission.
In the evening, Rahul Gandhi met Sharad Pawar at his official residence. At the meeting, Gandhi expressed his full support to Pawar and said he stands by the party in the fight against communal forces.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde refuted media reports about discontentment in the Shiv Sena camp. He claimed that nobody in Shiv Sena was unhappy over NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s inclusion in the State ministry. He also described as “rumours spread by Opposition” reports that his chief ministerial chair may be in jeopardy after Ajit Pawar joining the government. Maharashtra minister Uday Samant, who belongs to the Shinde-led group, said reports about Shinde’s resignation were false.
However, Kolhapur BJP leader Samarjeet Ghatge convened protests against the induction of Hasan Mushrif as state Cabinet minister. Ghatge had aggressively campaigned against Mushrif, over corruption against the NCP leader. Reaffirming that he will remain with the BJP, Ghatge said his supporters have stood by him and his protests against Mushrif for years.
Further, he said he raised tough questions in a meeting with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and his concerns were addressed. “In the BJP, we are always told to bear in mind that the nation comes first, party next and self last. I have been approached by other parties, but that has made my resolve to remain with the BJP stronger,” he said.