Ajit and Sharad Pawar camps of NCP trade verbal blows: Many MLAs refuse to take sides

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Sharad Pawar camps of the Nationalist Congress Party on Monday traded verbal blows at each other but also kept the doors open for negotiations, a day after the party 'split' unofficially. NCP chief Sharad Pawar expelled national working party president Praful Patel and general secretary Sunil Tatkare from the party on charges of anti-party activities. He also sent a letter to the Speaker's office requesting for the disqualification of nine NCP MLAs who joined the Shinde-led government in Maharashtra, including Ajit Pawar.

Minutes after the expulsion, Patel addressed a news conference with Ajit Pawar and claimed he continued to remain NCP's working president and announced his version of sackings. «Today I have officially informed Jayant Patil that he is being relieved of the post of NCP state president. In his place, we have decided to appoint Sunil Tatkare.

We want Tatkare to immediately begin work. Tatkare has also been given powers to make appointments. We have also decided to appoint Ajit Pawar as the legislature party chief and have written to the Speaker to continue with Anil Bhaidas Patil as the party chief whip,» Patel said, bringing back memories of the split in the Shiv Sena around the same time last year.

Patel and Ajit Pawar said they still believed that Sharad Pawar was the NCP president but refused to accept his decision not to align with BJP. «All the state leaders, a vast majority of NCP cadres and functionaries, the majority has supported the decision. In a democracy, to change a decision taken by the majority is illegal and unacceptable.