Sharad Pawar's NCP Expels 5 Leaders, Ajit Pawar Appoints New State Head

The rebel group of Nationalist Congress Party today followed the template set by the breakaway Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, declaring its own "group" and "state unit" leaders and "sacking" Jayant Patil, the state chief of the faction led by Sharad Pawar. Calling it "structural changes", Praful Patel, sacked from the NCP a short while ago by Sharad Pawar, declared that Ajit Pawar has been appointed the "Group Leader" of the party. Asked who the party's national president is, the "Group Leader" responded "Sharad Pawar is the national president" -- a statement bound to add to the row.