The plea is expected to come before a division bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justices GS Kulkarni and Firdosh Pooniwalla on February 21st.
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Maharashtra: The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has taken legal action against the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker’s recent decision, marking a new chapter in the ongoing tussle within one of Maharashtra’s major political parties. This move underscores the deepening rift within the NCP and highlights the complexities of party politics and legislative procedures in India.
The controversy stems from Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s decision on February 15, which dismissed the disqualification petitions filed by both factions of the NCP. This decision has not sat well with the Ajit Pawar faction, prompting them to approach the Bombay High Court for redressal. The petition, filed through advocate Shrirang Varma, argues that the Speaker’s failure to disqualify MLAs from the opposing faction, despite recognizing the Ajit Pawar faction as the legitimate NCP, contradicts the principles of party loyalty and discipline.
The heart of the dispute lies in the events of July 2023, when Ajit Pawar led a rebellion against the NCP leadership, resulting in a split within the party. This led to the Sharad Pawar group filing disqualification petitions against nine MLAs of the Ajit faction who joined the ruling Eknath Shinde government as ministers. Subsequently, petitions were filed against the remaining 31 MLAs of the Ajit Pawar faction. In a tit-for-tat move, the Ajit Pawar group filed cross petitions against 10 MLAs from the Sharad Pawar faction.
Adding another layer to this political saga, the Election Commission, on February 6, ruled in favor of the Ajit Pawar faction, recognizing it as the real NCP and allowing it to use the party’s ‘clock’ symbol. This decision was based on the majority support demonstrated by the Ajit Pawar faction within the legislative wing of the party. According to the Election Commission’s findings, out of the total 81 NCP MLAs in the Maharashtra State Assembly, 57 had submitted affidavits in support of Ajit Pawar, while only 28 backed Sharad Pawar.
This legal and political battle not only highlights the internal conflicts within the NCP but also raises important questions about party identity, leadership, and the role of legislative and electoral bodies in resolving such disputes. As the Bombay High Court considers the Ajit Pawar faction’s petition, the outcome will have significant implications for the NCP’s future and Maharashtra’s political landscape.
The ongoing conflict within the NCP serves as a reminder of the challenges political parties face in maintaining unity and discipline among their ranks. It also underscores the critical role of legal and institutional frameworks in adjudicating disputes that have far-reaching consequences for democratic governance and party politics in India. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the Bombay High Court’s decision and its impact on the NCP and Maharashtra’s political dynamics.
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