The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has expelled MP Praful Patel and four other leaders who have backed Ajit Pawar's rebellion. Meanwhile, the faction led by Ajit Pawar announced the appointment of Sunil Tatkare as new state chief of the party and the removal of Jayant Patil from the post.
The Sharad Pawar-led party has also moved a disqualification request against Ajit Pawar and eight others who joined the Eknath Shinde cabinet.
The party founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 suffered a vertical split yesterday after Ajit Pawar broke ranks and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as a Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP MLAs, including staunch Sharad Pawar loyalists like Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, were also made ministers.
Here are the updates on Ajit Pawar's big switch:
A day after Ajit Pawar's coup in Maharashtra that has left political circles in shock, NCP working president Praful Patel quashed rumours of him going to Delhi for the central ministerial post after joining the Maharashtra government.
In a new development in Maharashtra politics on Monday, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) disqualified nine rebel MLAs including Ajit Pawar who were sworn in as ministers in the Shinde-Fadnavis government 'for indulging in anti-party activities'.
The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party will have its new office -- Rashtrawadi Bhavan -- near the assembly/secretariat. Read here
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday extended his support to NCP chief Sharad Pawar after his party experienced an internal division with senior leader Ajit Pawar joining the Eknath Shinde government. According to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's office, Mr Stalin spoke to Mr Pawar and extended his support to him.
"We have given a letter to the Speaker requesting him to disqualify Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad," said Ajit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar today said that Sharad Pawar is the national president of the NCP. "Some leaders spoke yesterday and said that we won't fight legally, but will go among the masses. However, later at midnight, they take press conference and speak about legal action," said Ajit Pawar.
"Under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, we joined the government. The working president of NCP appointed me as state president of NCP. I have been state president earlier as well and we have worked for the development of party. Several appointments need to be done within the party. On July 5, we have called a meeting of the party office bearers. I am appointing Rupali Chakankar as women president. Suraj Chavhan has been appointed as youth wing president. Amol Mitkari, Anand Paranjpe, etc have been appointed as spokespersons," said Sunil Tatkare.
"Sharad Pawar is a power, and PM Modi tried to shake him. But, nothing will happen, everyone will fail," said Lalu Prasad Yadav on the rebellion by the Maharashtra strongman's nephew Ajit Pawar.
Praful Patel, senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and a close aide of Sharad Pawar, had a strong response today to media queries on whether he had ditched the veteran politician.
Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party -- caught unawares by his nephew Ajit Pawar's abrupt crossover to the ruling alliance -- today declared that it is not good news for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.