Maharashtra Crisis Updates: Sharad Pawar asserted he still heads the Nationalist Congress Party
The crisis in Maharashtra due to Ajit Pawar's rebellion against uncle Sharad Pawar entered Day 5 on Thursday. In the latest development, Sharad Pawar asserted he still heads the Nationalist Congress Party, which he founded over two decades ago. He also expelled rebel MPs Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare during a working committee meeting in Delhi earlier today.
Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde's camp today asserted that the Maharashtra Chief Minister has no plans of stepping down and there is no tumult in the Shiv Sena over Ajit Pawar's entry into the ruling coalition.
Here are the Highlights on Maharashtra Politics Crisis:
Sharad Pawar Writes To Election Body Over Nephew Staking Claim To Party SymbolSharad Pawar has written to the Election Commission over Ajit Pawar's petition staking claim for NCP symbol. "...would like to place on record our formal objections to the fact that the Hon'ble Commission despite receiving our caveats (as filed on 03.07.2023), has failed to inform us of this filing initiated by Shri Ajit Pawar. Further, it appears strange that if at all a petition was received on 30.06.2023 by this Hon'ble Commission, then the same should have been made available to the undersigned on 03.07.2023. On the other hand, if the petition had in fact been filed on 05.07.2023, the same ought not to have been taken on record without the copy of the same being served on the undersigned as the caveat was already filed on 03.07.2023. We would, therefore, request this Hon'ble Commission to clarify if the purported petition by Shri Ajit Pawar was in fact filed on 30.06.2023 or on 05.07.2023 and backdated to 30.06.2023 (as per certain news reports). This information will be extremely important to us to formulate an appropriate reply," he told the EC.
“I’m Still Effective, Whether 82 or 92”: Sharad Pawar Hits Back At Nephew
"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," says Sharad Pawar after party's national executive meeting in Delhi. "I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92," he adds, replying to Ajit Pawar's age jibe.
"We Don't Take It Seriously": PC Chacko On Sharad Pawar's 'Removal' As NCP Chief
"We do not take it seriously of those saying Sharad Pawar has been removed (as NCP chief). All the 27 state units are with Sharad Pawar. All have come out in his support, including the state unit in Maharashtra. We have full faith and confidence in Sharad Pawar. Any one who violates the principles of the party, Sharad Pawar can expel them," says PC Chacko of Sharad Pawar camp.
Breaking: Sharad Pawar Expels Top Leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare
Sharad Pawar has expelled Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and SR Kohli from the party for backing his nephew Ajit Pawar. The decision was taken at the National Executive meeting called by Sharad Pawar in Delhi today.
"Even Ajit Pawar Has Confidence In Double Engine Government": Eknath Shinde
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today dismissed as rumours the claims of Opposition parties that he will not remain in the top post following Ajit Pawar's entry into the ruling coalition. "Whoever is saying these things must look at themselves and introspect and manage their own split-up party. Even Ajit (Pawar) Dada has confidence in the double engine government, so we will run the government together. They are feeling uncomfortable since now we have 200 MLAs. They have been saying I won't remain Chief Minister and the government will fall since I took oath. But, that didn't happen," said Mr Shinde referring to the Uddhav Thackeray camp.
Ajit Pawar Camp Dubs Meeting Called By Sharad Pawar As IllegalThe Ajit Pawar camp has called the Working Committee meeting called by Sharad Pawar in Delhi today as having "no legal sanctity".
"The dispute on the question of who represents the real NCP is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the ECI and therefore no person within the Party has any authority to call for any meeting of the National Executive/National Working Committee/ National Office Bearers / State Party Presidents till such time the dispute is finally decided by the ECI. Therefore, the meeting of the National Executive/National Working Committee/ National Office Bearers / State Party Presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today, i.e. on 06.07.2023 scheduled on 06.07.2023 has no legal sanctity whatsoever. Further, any of the decisions which may be taken in the so called National Executive/National Working Committee/National Office Bearers/State Party Presidents shall have no valid legal basis and shall not be binding on anyone in the Party," said a press note by his camp.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has no plans of stepping down and there is no tumult in the Shiv Sena over Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rebel Ajit Pawar and his followers joining the government, the party said on Thursday.
- Addressing a news conference a day after the Chief Minister cancelled all his appointments and called an urgent party meeting at his official residence in the evening, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant dismissed reports of a churn in the party.
- "We are not resignation givers but takers. His leadership is to take everyone along and be patient. Yesterday, all the MLAs, MPs have reposed faith in Eknath Shinde... all this (reports of discontent) is being done to malign Eknath Shinde," Mr Samant said.
- "Some reports said differences had emerged between two MLAs. Some said that one of the MLAs said that we should not go with NCP. But nothing of that sort happened," he said.
- "There is no need for anyone to go anywhere. The current government has a comfortable majority with 200 MLAs," Mr Samant added.