Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 02:24 AM IST

  Metros   Mumbai  24 Nov 2019  NCP sacks Ajit Pawar as legislature unit leader

NCP sacks Ajit Pawar as legislature unit leader

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Nov 24, 2019, 7:25 am IST
Updated : Nov 24, 2019, 7:25 am IST

The BJP termed Ajit Pawar’s sacking from the post of NCP’s legislative party chief as “illegal”.

Ajit Pawar
 Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: After he joined hands with the BJP in a bid to form the next government, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, termed a rebel MLA by the party, was sacked as the leader of NCP legislative party. State NCP chief Jayant Patil was elected the new legislative party leader in a meeting called by party chief Sharad Pawar.

This happened after Ajit Pawar purportedly broke the party and supported BJP to clandestinely form the government overnight. “The decision to remove Ajit Pawar from the position of leader of legislative party was taken at the meeting of MLAs called by Sharad Pawar,” said a NCP source.

As per the NCP's statement, Pawar and Jayant Patil will take a final decision on Ajit Pawar's future in the party. All rights of legislative party leader have been given to Sharad Pawar and Jayant Patil.

“The support given by Ajit Pawar to the BJP for government is not consistent with NCP's principles and policies and therefore is not acceptable to the party,” read the statement.

Just hours earlier, Mr Pawar in a joint presser stated that Ajit had indulged in indiscipline by siding with the BJP and strong action would be taken against him.

The BJP termed Ajit Pawar’s sacking from the post of NCP’s legislative party chief as “illegal”.

Former minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar said that Mr Pawar was elected as their leader by NCP’s legislators on November 30 and that does not become void because some other decision taken by the party leadership later.

“Ajit Pawar was elected as the legislative party leader on November 30 and such letter was submitted to governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Based on that letter, the govenor took his decision to give oath to Devendra Fadnavis and Mr Pawar. After the governor has taken his decision, any decision to change the legislative party leader can only be taken after consulting the governor. Therefore the decision announced by NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik on Saturday is illegal. Mr Pawar is still the legislative party leader of NCP,” Mr Shelar said.

While highlighting that Ajit Pawar's decision had not been endorsed by the party, the NCP president alleged that his nephew manipulated and submitted to the Governor a letter signed by the newly elected MLAs that was originally intended in support of a Shiv Sena-led government.

Three MLAs present at the swearing-in ceremony later told the media that Ajit Pawar misled them into going to Raj Bhawan in the morning.

Tags: ajit pawar, sharad pawar