The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has expelled MP Praful Patel and four other leaders who have backed Ajit Pawar's rebellion. Meanwhile, the faction led by Ajit Pawar announced the appointment of Sunil Tatkare as new state chief of the party and the removal of Jayant Patil from the post.
The Sharad Pawar-led party has also moved a disqualification request against Ajit Pawar and eight others who joined the Eknath Shinde cabinet.
The party founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 suffered a vertical split yesterday after Ajit Pawar broke ranks and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as a Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP MLAs, including staunch Sharad Pawar loyalists like Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, were also made ministers.
