A meeting is currently underway at Nationalist Congress Party leader (NCP) Ajit Pawar's residence, a day after he took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Chaggan Bhujbal, Anil Patil, Dilip Walse Patil, Sunil Tatkare, Anil Patil and Sanjay Bansode were among those that arrived at his residence to attend the meeting.
Alongside Ajit Pawar, eight prominent NCP leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aatram Dharamraobaba Bhagwantrao, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Baburao Bansode, and Anil Bhaidas Patil, also switched sides and took the oath as cabinet ministers yesterday.
NCP MLC Amol Mitkari claimed that more leaders will be joining Ajit Pawar. "I am here since yesterday, several MLAs are coming to meet us. Those 35 MLAs who supported Ajit Pawar yesterday are with Ajit Dada even today. There are more leaders who are joining us. I was with NCP and I will be with NCP always. It is not right that there has been a divide in the party. I wish what Sanjay Raut said that Ajit Pawar will become the CM, comes true."
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According to reports, Pawar reportedly has the support of 40 NCP MLAs and has submitted a list mentioning them to Governor Ramesh Bais. Pawar has also approached the Election Commission for a party name and symbol, media reports said.
Meanwhile, the NCP on Sunday moved a petition before Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, seeking disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government.
“These actions of the nine MLAs call for immediate disqualification as not only are such defections ipso facto seriously damaging to the party but also that if allowed to continue as members, there is a very real likelihood that they will continue to try and undermine the interests of the party," the resolution said.
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In response, speaker Rahul Narwekar said he will take appropriate decision on NCP's plea.
Sharad Pawar is set to visit Karad today, where he will address a public meeting and visit the Yashwant Chavan Samadhi.
