NCP moves petitions seeking disqualification of Ajit Pawar, 8 other MLAs
"Nine members of the NCP have not spoken to the national president. They were disqualified automatically when they took the oath and joined the government," NCP Maharashtra President Jayant Patil said. The party has also filed a petition seeking the MLAs' disqualification before the Election Commission of India.
FollowThe NCP has submitted the petition seeking the disqualification of the MLAs who broke ranks and joined hands with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Sunday. "Nine members of the NCP have not spoken to the national president (Sharad Pawar). Those who take the oath will face legal problems. They were technically disqualified when the moment they took the oath," NCP Maharashtra President Jayant Patil said.
The disqualification petition has been filed before Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar against all 9 MLAs who become ministers, Patil said, adding that the party has also filed a petition before the Election Commission of India.
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"The plea (seeking disqualification) has been sent via email and WhatsApp to the speaker," he said, adding, "We have also made an arrangement to send the disqualification petition physically to Maharashtra Speaker. We have written that 9 members have done this. But the party does not stand by it."
The NCP state president claimed that half the MLAs believed to be backing Ajit Pawar did not even know the content of the letters they were made to sign. He further said that action will not be taken against these MLAs and that they had been given time to reconsider and return to the party. "Several MLAs have spoken to us and conveyed that they're willing to come back. Can't speak on numbers, but several are in touch."
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