PUNE/ MUMBAI/ CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR/NASHIK/KOLHAPUR: The Sharad Pawar faction of NCP and other parties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi condemned the EC’s decision on the party name and symbol, claiming it was “murder of democracy.” Pawar Senior’s group will move the Supreme Court against the order.
State NCP president Jayant Patil said, “We are stunned and shocked.A political party set up and nurtured by Sharad Pawar has been snatched away by EC and entrusted to a rival faction. This was never expected from EC. It has been established beyond doubt that EC too has lost autonomy and has become a tool in the hands of the ruling party.” NCP LS MP Supriya Sule said it appeared an “invisible force” had played a crucial role. “In keeping with the ECI verdict, we are in the process of submitting three symbols and names for our new party before the deadline prescribed by EC,” Sule said. Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew and Karjat Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar said though the party’s name and symbol had been “snatched by misuse of power, the father of the party is still with us.”
Rohit Pawar in a post on a social media handle said, “The other group unconstitutionally snatched the party with help of the Centre. However, the same group did not bother to take help from the Centre in assisting farmers or increasing the reservation limit above 50% to help people.”
NCP general secretary Jeetendra Awhad said it has again been established that ECI can be managed and an “order of choice” can be secured. “For six months, two NCP leaders (of the Ajit Pawar group) Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare had publicly declared EC will pass an order in their favour. In fact, EC had then warned them, but then itself, it was established EC was all set to announce the verdict in favour of Ajit Pawar faction,” he said. Patil said NCP would challenge the order in SC. “We are sure SC will do justice to us before Lok Sabha elections are declared,” he said.
Patil said Sharad Pawar had worked throughout his life for expansion of the party, and it was brought to the notice of EC that out of 28 states in which NCP has a presence, heads of 23 had extended their support to Sharad Pawar, and most office-bearers were with Sharad Pawar. “For us, Sharad Pawar is the party. EC order in our case is, like in the Shiv Sena case, based on strength of the legislature party. In our opinion, it is a wrong view (to take),” he said.
MPCC president Nana Patole alleged the order appeared to have been dictated by the NDA government. “A few months ago, BJP president J P Nadda had declared all regional parties would cease to exist. First it was Shiv Sena, and now NCP has been murdered. The Modi govt and EC have drafted a plan to end democracy,” he claimed.
Leader of opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said EC is “anti-democratic”. Ex-CM Ashok Chavan said the verdict is on expected lines and NCP has found itself in the same situation as Sena.
Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve said the verdict was an exercise to help the NDA cross the 400-seat mark in the Lok Sabha election. “People of Maharashtra will react. One section of NCP has the most promising face Sharad Pawar,” he added.
Former mayor of Pune and city president of Sharad Pawar group Prashant Jagtap said, “Pawar Saheb built NCP through years of effort. He picked every member of the party, but the EC has given it to those who deviated from the ideology for personal gains.”
Sushil Borde, Chhatrapati Sambhajingar district president of the youth faction of Sharad Pawar-led NCP, said the final verdict would come from voters. “Barring some leaders, all are behind Sharad Pawar. He will soon show who is the boss,” he added.
State NCP president Jayant Patil said, “We are stunned and shocked.A political party set up and nurtured by Sharad Pawar has been snatched away by EC and entrusted to a rival faction. This was never expected from EC. It has been established beyond doubt that EC too has lost autonomy and has become a tool in the hands of the ruling party.” NCP LS MP Supriya Sule said it appeared an “invisible force” had played a crucial role. “In keeping with the ECI verdict, we are in the process of submitting three symbols and names for our new party before the deadline prescribed by EC,” Sule said. Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew and Karjat Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar said though the party’s name and symbol had been “snatched by misuse of power, the father of the party is still with us.”
Rohit Pawar in a post on a social media handle said, “The other group unconstitutionally snatched the party with help of the Centre. However, the same group did not bother to take help from the Centre in assisting farmers or increasing the reservation limit above 50% to help people.”
NCP general secretary Jeetendra Awhad said it has again been established that ECI can be managed and an “order of choice” can be secured. “For six months, two NCP leaders (of the Ajit Pawar group) Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare had publicly declared EC will pass an order in their favour. In fact, EC had then warned them, but then itself, it was established EC was all set to announce the verdict in favour of Ajit Pawar faction,” he said. Patil said NCP would challenge the order in SC. “We are sure SC will do justice to us before Lok Sabha elections are declared,” he said.
Patil said Sharad Pawar had worked throughout his life for expansion of the party, and it was brought to the notice of EC that out of 28 states in which NCP has a presence, heads of 23 had extended their support to Sharad Pawar, and most office-bearers were with Sharad Pawar. “For us, Sharad Pawar is the party. EC order in our case is, like in the Shiv Sena case, based on strength of the legislature party. In our opinion, it is a wrong view (to take),” he said.
MPCC president Nana Patole alleged the order appeared to have been dictated by the NDA government. “A few months ago, BJP president J P Nadda had declared all regional parties would cease to exist. First it was Shiv Sena, and now NCP has been murdered. The Modi govt and EC have drafted a plan to end democracy,” he claimed.
Leader of opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said EC is “anti-democratic”. Ex-CM Ashok Chavan said the verdict is on expected lines and NCP has found itself in the same situation as Sena.
Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve said the verdict was an exercise to help the NDA cross the 400-seat mark in the Lok Sabha election. “People of Maharashtra will react. One section of NCP has the most promising face Sharad Pawar,” he added.
Former mayor of Pune and city president of Sharad Pawar group Prashant Jagtap said, “Pawar Saheb built NCP through years of effort. He picked every member of the party, but the EC has given it to those who deviated from the ideology for personal gains.”
Sushil Borde, Chhatrapati Sambhajingar district president of the youth faction of Sharad Pawar-led NCP, said the final verdict would come from voters. “Barring some leaders, all are behind Sharad Pawar. He will soon show who is the boss,” he added.