https://www.india.com/maharashtra/ncp-crisis-sharad-proclaimed-undisputed-president-at-party-meet-praful-patel-among-11-rebel-leaders-expelled-6152280/NCP Crisis: Sharad Declared undisputed president at party rally, Praful Patel among 11 rebel leaders ousted

Speaking to reporters, Sharad Pawar claimed, “I am the president of NCP”, adding that the “truth will come out” based on Ajit Pawar’s claim that he has the majority.

New Delhi: Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), proclaimed himself the party’s undisputed chairman on Thursday, even as 11 rebel leaders, including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, were expelled at a meeting of the NCP’s working committee in New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters after the NCP Working Committee meeting where rebel leaders who recently joined the Shiv Sena-BJP NDA government in Maharashtra, senior party leader PC Chacko said eight resolutions were passed at the meeting, PTI news agency reported.

Chacko said the entire cadre was behind NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who has been elected national president of the party, adding that they do not take seriously the claims of others who declare themselves NCP president.

“NCP working committee approves decision to evict Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and nine who joined NDA. Sharad Pawar was elected national president. We don’t take claims that someone is national president seriously,” Chacko said.

“Our organization is still intact and we are with Sharad Pawar,” he claimed.

Speaking to reporters, Sharad Pawar claimed, “I am the president of NCP”, adding that the “truth will come out” on Ajit Pawar’s claim that he has the majority.

PC Chacko said NCP holds elections every three years and people are elected regularly.

He said eight resolutions were passed by the NCP’s working committee at today’s meeting, including a “statement against the undemocratic and unconstitutional actions of the BJP government and the abuse of government agencies against the opposition”.

It also condemned central government policies that resulted in rising inflation, unemployment and the plight of women.

Ajit Pawar and eight of his colleagues joined Eknath Shinde’s government on July 2. While Pawar became deputy chief minister, the others were sworn in as ministers.

Several of them have been charged with corruption and are being investigated by central investigative agencies.

According to reports, Ajit Pawar has the support of more than 40 MLAs and at least six MLCs from the NCP led by Uncle Sharad Pawar.

Citing sources who quoted a letter submitted to the Raj Bhavan after the departure of Ajit Pawar, a PTI report said that the newly crowned deputy chief minister of the Maharashtra government of Eknath Shinde has the support of more than 40 MLAs and more than six MLCs from the NCP out of a total of 53 MLAs and nine MLCs from the party.

“Ajit Pawar has the support of more than 40 MLAs and more than six MLCs. A letter of support from these legislators has been given to Raj Bhavan,” said a source in the PTI report.

On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar submitted a petition to the Election Commission claiming the NCP and the party symbol. However, it was overturned by a caveat filed by Jayant Patil of the Sharad Pawar faction, who informed the panel that they have launched a disqualification process against nine MLAs who defected from the NCP and joined the Eknath Shinde-led regime.

(with PTI inputs)