Ajit Pawar: Will accept final decision of EC on NCP name, symbol

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar/ Pic/X

On Monday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he would accept the "final" decision of the Election Commission of India regarding the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) name and poll symbol. His statement came as factions led by him and his uncle, Sharad Pawar were submitted to the poll body.

While speaking with the media persons in Pune, on the sidelines of his visit to Ganesha pandals in the city, he further added that both factions will put their stands on the allotted dates, stated a report in PTI.

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Ajit Pawar, leading eight MLAs, joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Maharashtra on July 2. Claiming he had the support of the majority of MLAs of the NCP, founded by Pawar Senior, he staked claim to the party name and symbol in the ECI.

However, the Sharad Pawar-led faction challenged the Ajit Pawar faction's move in the poll body and the decision is yet to be made.

According to the report, when he was quizzed about Sharad Pawar faction initiating action against MLAs joining his group, Ajit Pawar remarked they can exercise their rights.

He was quoted as saying, "However, it is the Elections Commission (EC) which makes a final decision. Both sides have gone to the ECI and everyone will put forth their stand on the given dates. I will accept the final decision of the ECI."

When asked about his assessment on the possibility of 16 MLAs (of Shiv Sena) being disqualified by Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar and the chances of replacing the chief minister, he noted that such reports are baseless.

"Such reports have been doing the rounds since the day Eknath Shinde became the chief minister (in June 2022). All these reports are meaningless," Ajit Pawar added.

Pawar's absence during Union Home Minister Amit Sha's visit had also fuelled speculations. Pawar clarifying the same stated, "I was in Baramati on Friday. I have allocated my time for Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, and Baramati on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays, respectively. The annual meeting of Baramati Bazar Samiti, Baramati Bank, and Sahyog Grihnirman Sanstha was scheduled in Baramati on Friday. I had already informed Amit Shah's office about this."

He was also quizzed about a banner projecting his nephew Rohit Pawar as the next CM of the state, Pawar junior said that such a speculation is a "daydream" unless backed by 145 out of 288 MLAs.