"I Want To Be Chief Minister," Says Ajit Pawar, Trumps Uncle Sharad In NCP Rollcall

Supporters have put banners outside Sharad Pawar's residence asking people to come to support the "83-year-old warrior who is fighting alone".

Ajit Pawar and his followers assembled under a backdrop with Sharad Pawar's photo.

Mumbai: Ajit Pawar, who is leading the rebel group of the Nationalist Congress Party, today said that he aspires to be the Chief Minister one day. His faction also claimed that he was elected the party chief on June 30, two days before the coup.

Here are 10 facts on this big story:

  1. Ajit Pawar-led NCP has informed the Election Commission that he has been elected national president of the party "through a resolution dated June 30, 2023 signed by an overwhelming majority" of members of NCP.
  2. Mr Pawar, who joined the BJP-Shiv Sena Maharashtra government last week as Deputy Chief Minister, said that he wants to be the "Chief Minister some day".
  3. The 63-year-old also submitted a request to the Election Commission staking claim to the party's name and symbol. "The symbol won't go anywhere," Sharad Pawar hit back.
  4. The Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party held separate show of strength meetings today. While Ajit Pawar claimed the support of over 40 MLAs and MLCs, about 29 MLAs were seen on the stage at the meeting called by him.
  5. The other faction paraded 17 MLAs.The NCP has 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
  6. Earlier, NCP's working president Supriya Sule urged party leaders and workers to turn up at the meet in large numbers and seek guidance from Sharad Pawar on the road ahead.
  7. While Sharad Pawar's NCP is banking on the 83-year-old's experience and popularity, the Ajit Pawar camp, sources said, is asking MLAs to make a "practical decision".
  8. In a shock move last week, Ajit Pawar resigned as the leader of the Opposition and hours later took oath as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP legislators were also sworn in and the state government is expected to announce a cabinet expansion soon.
  9. Sharad Pawar's party has moved a petition before Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and the 8 MLAs who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government.
  10. Even if Ajit Pawar manages to get 50 out of 53 MLAs, disqualification proceedings can still be initiated as Supreme Court has held that original political party should merge under the 10th schedule and legislative party cannot be independent of a political party. So, the show of strength by Ajit Pawar will not have any impact on the disqualification proceedings.

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