The Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) factional fight has reached the doorstep of the Election Commission (EC) with the group led by Ajit Pawar has staked claim to the NCP and its party symbol. Ajit Pawar has approached the EC, claiming he has the support of over 40 members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) and members of parliament (MPs).
Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar camp has filed a caveat with the poll body requesting it to hear them first before making any instruction related to the factional conflict. The Election Commission of India is expected to evaluate petitions in the coming days and ask both the sides to exchange the respective documents submitted before it. As per the reports, ECI has issued a notice to Sharad Pawar to respond to Ajit Pawar's plea.
The internal split in the NCP occurred on Sunday, when Ajit Pawar, along with nine other MLAs, joined the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra. Nine NCP MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, were sworn-in as ministers in the Maharashtra government during a surprise cabinet expansion. Ajit Pawar, with senior party leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil by his side, asserted to be the real NCP. Sharad Pawar also asserted to be the real NCP, and expelled Patel and Lok Sabha member Sunil Tatkare from the party. Sharad Pawar's camp has further requested the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to disqualify the nine MLAs who joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government.