Party constitution not followed in 2022: Praful Patel

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Nationalist Congress Party on Friday contended that Sharad Pawar's election as party president in 2022 was 'illegal' as it was not done as per party constitution. Rebel leader Praful Patel claimed that since Pawar was not a 'legally elected party president,' the decision to expel him, Ajit Pawar and 10 others from NCP was also illegal. NCP was run as per party constitution or election commission rules, he alleged.

«The entire organisational structure in the NCP has been flawed; it cannot withstand scrutiny. None of the office bearer appointments were done as per party constitution. They were appointed by someone, who was appointed by someone else.

No one has been elected as per party constitution,» Patel claimed. Patel said that he had appointed Jayant Patil as state NCP president and the latter did not have the powers to suspend or seek disqualification of any NCP members. «I had appointed Patil as an ad hoc basis, because we didn't have elections.

So how can he take any decision when his appointment itself is not as per the process and is flawed? Our organisational structure will not withstand legal scrutiny,» Patel claimed. The party's structure was 'so flawed' that it did not know who primary members were and, in several cases, even presidents of different NCP state units were appointed before they became primary members of the party, he alleged. The September 2022 national convention of the party was also illegal as it was not held as per norms, he alleged.