New Delhi: As the two factions of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar & nephew Ajit Pawar fight it out in the open, the two meetings slated for Wednesday could turn out to be the deciding factor over who could control the party after split.
Amid the showdown, NCP working president & Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule today made an emotional appeal to party leaders & workers to rally behind the Maratha warrior and prove by numbers over – ‘who is the boss’
“I will be waiting for you all. The 83-year old warrior and our beloved leader Sharad Pawar will be there to guide us all. He will tell us the future plans of the party and our responsibilities,” Sule said in 54-second video message.
NCP state president Jayant Patil also made a video appeal to all party office-bearers to make their presence & give the rebels a strong message.
महाराष्ट्राच्या स्वाभिमानी जनतेने आदरणीय पवार साहेबांवर (@PawarSpeaks) नेहमीच जीवापाड प्रेम केलं आहे. आणि साहेबांचा देखील इथल्या जनतेवर जीव आहे. हे नातं अतूट आणि पहाडासारखं भक्कम आहे. प्राप्त परिस्थितीत आपल्या सर्वांच्या राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षाला (@NCPspeaks) पुढील दिशा… pic.twitter.com/cqOawLAaZi
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) July 4, 2023
NCP has a total of 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. Ajit-led faction claims to have support of at least 40 MLAs, a criteria that will prevent the anti-defection law from getting activated.
Wednesday will turn out to the red letter day for the party. Sharad Pawar has called meeting of MLAs at YB Chavan Centre while Ajit has called all supporting MLAs for show of strength at MET Bhujbal Knowledge City, Bandra.
Ajit faction needs support of at least 36 MLAs to avoid disqualification under the provisions of anti-defection law.
After the show of strength, both factions will vie for claiming the party symbol. Though, it is early to say how the showdown will pan out but the NCP has vowed to initiate legal proceedings against the rebels.
“Those who fail to return to Sharad camp will have a lot to answer, including legal notice,” said a party leader.
