Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar issues whip to all MLAs to attend today's meeting; Ajit group also issues notice for its meet

livemint.com:

Ajit Pawar has also issued a notice on Tuesday to all current and former legislators, parliamentarians, office-bearers, working committee members, and others, asking them to attend a meeting convened by Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra unit president appointed by the group, at the MET institute's premises in suburban Bandra at 11 AM on Wednesday Sharad Pawar named Jitendra Awhad as chief whip after nephew Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government with eight other MLAs on Sunday. Ajit's dramatic move has changed the political equations in the state ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly polls next year and has ramifications for national politics. The NCP led by Sharad Pawar has moved a petition before Speaker Narwekar, seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government.

Yesterday, Ajit Pawar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and asserted there is no alternative to him. Ajit Pawar was effusive in his praise of Modi as he inaugurated his faction’s new office in south Mumbai. “The country is marching ahead under his (Modi’s) leadership.

We have joined the government to support him. There is no leader like Modi. There is no alternative to him," he said.

The NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member House and the Ajit Pawar camp has claimed the support of 40 of them. Senior Pawar is now seeking legal opinion to tackle the crisis in the party caused by his nephew. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, "Taking a legal opinion is necessary as this issue concerns Schedule 10 of the constitution".