Pawar vs Pawar: In Tussle With Uncle Over NCP Name And Symbol, Ajit Says Will Accept EC's Final Decision'

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said he is prepared to accept the "final" decision made by the Election Commission of India regarding the dispute over the NCP's name and election symbol. This comes in light of the competing claims submitted by the factions led by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to various Lord Ganesh pandals in Pune, Ajit Pawar explained his stance. He had previously led eight MLAs to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July, asserting the support of a majority of NCP MLAs and staking a claim to the party's name and symbol with the Election Commission.

The dispute between the Ajit Pawar faction and the Sharad Pawar faction remains unresolved within the Election Commission. When asked about the Sharad Pawar faction's actions against MLAs aligning with his group, Ajit Pawar noted that they have the right to do so. However, he emphasised that the final decision rests with the Election Commission, where both sides will present their arguments.

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"However, it is the Elections Commission (EC) which makes a final decision. Both sides have gone to the ECI and everyone will put forth their stand on the given dates. As far as I am concerned, I will accept the final decision of the ECI," he said, (News agency PTI reported).

Regarding reports of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs possibly facing disqualification by the Maharashtra speaker and speculation about changing the chief minister, Ajit Pawar dismissed these reports as baseless. He stated that such rumors have circulated since Eknath Shinde became the chief minister in June 2022 and should not be taken seriously.

"Such reports have been doing the rounds since the day Eknath Shinde became the chief minister (in June 2022). All these reports are meaningless," Ajit Pawar added.

Meanwhile, NCP MLC Eknath Khadse disclosed that he had been approached by a supporter of Ajit Pawar, MLC Amol Mitkari, with an offer to join Ajit Pawar's faction. However, Khadse reaffirmed his loyalty to Sharad Pawar and declined the offer.

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“I had received a call from NCP MLC Amol Mitkari on behalf of Ajit Pawar asking me to side with his faction. I told him flatly that I was loyal to Sharad Pawar. I will not leave him,” Khadse told reporters.

The ongoing dispute between the two NCP factions, each claiming to represent the authentic NCP, underscores the political complexity in Maharashtra's landscape. The final resolution will await the Election Commission's decision.