Anil Patil, the chief whip of the Ajit Pawar faction within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has formally raised concerns over the election process that led to Sharad Pawar assuming the role of NCP president. Patil submitted an affidavit to Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who is currently presiding over disqualification petitions from rival NCP factions, contending that Sharad Pawar’s election was illegal and not in alignment with the party’s constitution.
Anil Patil, also a legislator from Jalgaon and the Relief and Rehabilitation Minister in the Eknath Shinde government, has filed separate petitions seeking the disqualification of 10 legislators affiliated with Sharad Pawar’s faction for alleged anti-party activities. In response, Jayant Patil, the state NCP president from the Sharad Pawar group, has filed 40 petitions urging the disqualification of Ajit Pawar-led MLAs for similar anti-party conduct.
In a robustly worded affidavit, Anil Patil asserted that Sharad Pawar was overseeing the party in violation of its constitutional provisions. He challenged Sharad Pawar’s claim to the national presidency, arguing that there was no evidence of a legitimate election to support this assertion.
Patil further accused Sharad Pawar of managing the party in a dictatorial manner, alleging that decisions were made according to Pawar’s personal preferences, leaving no room for other leaders within the party to voice their opinions.
The affidavit also highlighted Patil’s contention that, contrary to the party constitution’s provisions for the election of state presidents and committees, Sharad Pawar had personally nominated individuals to these positions, thus bypassing the democratic process.
According to records, Anil Patil emphasized that Ajit Pawar had been legitimately elected as the NCP president on June 30 of the previous year, with the Election Commission of India duly notified of the election outcome.
The ongoing dispute between the rival factions has heightened tensions within the NCP, bringing internal party affairs under the scrutiny of the Speaker and the public eye.