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BIG STORY JULY 14, 2023 | The Indian Eye 5

tive/National Working Committee/ “I saw the 2019 elections, this
National Office Bearers / State Party 84-year-old man fought and won, age
Presidents till such time the dispute is just a number,” Sule said further.
is finally decided by the ECI,” said a Meanwhile, Anil Deshmukh, NCP
press note released by the Ajit Pawar leader and a loyalist Sharad Pawar
faction. also came for rescue and ended up
“The meeting of the National calling his party chief a “Lion” and
Executive, National Working Com- said, “82 saal ka sher abhi bhi zinda
mittee, National Office Bearers or hai,” (82-year-old Lion is still alive).
State Party Presidents of the Nation- In the meanwhile, addressing
alist Congress Party (NCP) on July the recent reports of discontent
6 has no legal sanctity whatsoever,” among Shiv Sena MLAs regarding
the statement said. NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s joining the
The statement said that Ajit Shinde-Fadnavis government, Ma-
Pawar has been elected as the Na- harashtra Chief Minister Eknath
tional President of NCP on June 30 Shinde made it clear that his gov-
with the overwhelming support of ernment has emerged stronger, add-
the majority of elected representa- ing that he has no plans of stepping
tives of NCP as well as the members down and termed it as “rumors”.
working on different organizational Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has appointed Narendra Rane as Mumbai Presi- “It is all rumors...,” CM Shinde
posts. dent of the Nationalist Congress Party in Mumbai on Thursday (ANI) told ANI. Speaking about the split in
“Ajit Pawar has also filed a pe- the NCP, Shinde said that the NCP
tition before the Hon’ble Election should introspect on what is happen-
Commission of India (ECI), stating the Sharad Pawar group. He also Pawar for NCP losing out on the ing in their party.
that he represents the real NCP and informed the panel that they have chance to have a chief minister of “They (NCP) should introspect
therefore, the name of the party initiated a disqualification process Maharashtra despite having the sup- on what is happening in their party.
along with the symbol be granted to against nine MLAs who joined the port of a majority of MLAs in the They should look into their party,
him,” the statement added. Eknath Shinde-BJP government in year 2014. khud ka ghar toh toot gya hai (Their
In another important devel- the state on Sunday. “You portrayed me as a villain own house is broken now).”
opment, Congress leader Rahul The politics of Maharashtra is in front of everyone. I still have deep “Yesterday I also held a meeting
Gandhi on Thursday held a meet- on the boil since Sunday as senior respect for him (Sharad Pawar) with our MPs and MLAs and our
ing with Sharad Pawar at the latter’s NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath ...But you tell me, IAS officers retire government is getting stronger day
residence in Delhi and extended his as the state’s deputy chief minister. at 60...even in politics - BJP leaders by day,” he added.
full support to NCP amid a split in On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar took a retire at 75. You can see the example He further added, “Including
the party. NCP working president veiled dig at his uncle Sharad Pawar of LK Advani and Murli Manohar three parties presently our MLAs are
and MP Supriya Sule, Maharashtra regarding his age that left the NCP Joshi...That allows the new genera- more than 200. No leader is unhappy
LoP Jitendra Awhad and other NCP Supremo’s party members and loy- tion to rise...” and all have faith. Our government
leaders were also present. Talking to alists fuming, resulting in a chain of Later in the day, NCP’s working is only getting stronger. We have a
the media, NCP leader Sonia Duhan reactions. president Supriya Sule in a stern re- huge support of PM Modi and Amit
said that Rahul Gandhi has extend- Ajit Pawar urged Sharad Pawar sponse asked the deputy CM not to Shah,” Maharashtra CM said.
ed his full support to NCP and the to step down and give a chance to disrespect her father. “Disrespect us, But Uddhav Thackeray faction
opposition parties are also standing the new generation stating that even but not our father (Sharad Pawar). leader Sanjay Raut said that Maha-
with them leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party This fight is against the Bharatiya rashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shin-
“Rahul Gandhi in his meeting (BJP) retire at the age of 75. Janata Party government. BJP is the de may be replaced in the coming
with Sharad Pawar said that his full The junior Pawar also has most corrupt party in the country,” days in the wake of NCP leader Ajit
support is with NCP. He also said blamed the 82-year-old Sharad said Sule in Mumbai on Wednesday. Pawar and eight other MLAs joining
that Congress is 100 per cent with the National Democratic Alliance
us and the opposition parties are government. “The chief minister of
also standing with NCP”, Sonia Maharashtra may be changed in the
Duhan said. coming days,” Sanjay Raut said.
With the NCP witnessing the Now, even as the fierce power
unravelling of the party, the Pawar tussle between rival Nationalist Con-
family feud played out on stage on gress Party (NCP) factions, led by
Wednesday as NCP factions head- Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit
ed by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Pawar, continued in Maharashtra,
held rival meetings at Yashwantrao Chief Minister of the state Eknath
Chavan Centre in south Mumbai Shinde met Maharashtra Navnirman
and in Bhujbal Knowledge City in Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at
suburban Bandra, respectively. his residence on Friday.
While sources revealed that The surprise and dramatic polit-
Election Commission has received ical moves of this week have changed
a petition from Maharashtra Depu- the political equations in the state
ty Chief Minister Ajit Pawar staking ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly
claim to Nationalist Congress Party polls next year and has ramifications
(NCP) and the party symbol. for national politics.
The sources said the Election Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets with Sharad Pawar and NCP Working President Supriya But the story of Pawar family
Commission has also received a ca- Sule in New Delhi on Thursday (ANI) feud and the future of NCP is not
veat from Jayant Patil, who is with over yet.

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