Maharashtra politics: NCP files disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar, other 8 MLAs

Maharashtra politics: Following the sudden and dramatic political move by NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight other party leaders to join the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra on Sunday, the party filed a disqualification petition with assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar against its nine leaders.

"We have filed a disqualification petition with the Assembly Speaker and hard copies will be sent as soon as possible. This disqualification petition was filed against nine leaders," NCP leader Jayant Patil stated.

He added, "They didn't inform anyone that they were leaving the party, which is against the NCP. We have also written a letter to the Election Commission of India. We are not accepting this; these nine leaders didn't inform us before doing this (leaving the party)."

"We believe most of the MLAs will come back to the NCP, and we will accept them again," he said.

Earlier, in a surprising turn of events resembled of the Shiv Sena split almost a year ago, NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, with eight other party legislators also joining the state's National Democratic Alliance government.

Ajit Pawar stated that all MLAs support him and have joined the Shiv Sena-BJP administration as a party.

"We have all the numbers. All MLAs are with me. We are here as a party. We have informed all seniors as well. The majority is given importance in a democracy. Our party is 24 years old and young leadership should come forward," Ajit Pawar said after taking oath as Maharashtra's Deputy CM.

The Deputy Chief Minister also stated that a few more ministers would be included in the next expansion.

"We decided to join the Shinde-Fadanvis government with almost all NCP MLAs. We took the oath, and a few more ministers will be added in the next expansion," stated Ajit Pawar.

NCP Leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra's second Deputy Chief Minister by State Governor Ramesh Bais.

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