Election Commission's decision on NCP: Will approach Supreme Court, it's our last hope, says Jayant Patil

Jayant Patil. File Pic

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) group will move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's ruling which recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP, senior leader Jayant Patil said, reported the PTI.

"We will approach the Supreme Court as it is our last hope. It is our innocent expectation that the SC will stay the decision of the ECI. We have to stand firm behind Sharad Pawar. The party workers need not worry," said Jayant Patil, who heads the state unit of NCP (Sharad Pawar) camp, according to the PTI.

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He said the NCP was founded by Sharad Pawar who developed it from the grassroots and also helped many leaders grow in their political careers.

"The Supreme Court (in the past) had said that even though MLAs shift their loyalty, the party does not follow them. Despite this, the ECI has given a decision based on the elected representatives and their inclination,", he added.

Majority matters in democracy: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said the NCP led by him enjoys the backing of a majority of MLAs as well as district presidents across the state.

Addressing a press conference after the ECI recognised the faction led by him as the real Nationalist Congress Party and allotted it the party symbol, Pawar said, "In democracy, priority is given to majority which is why the poll commission has allotted the party name and symbol to us".

"50 MLAs are with us (NCP). Also, most of the district presidents in the state, chiefs of the party cells (frontal organisations) are also backing us," he said.
Pawar said he accepts the Election Commission's decision with utmost humility.

On rival Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction's assertion that the ECI's order will be challenged in the Supreme Court, Ajit said everyone has the right to do so.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the ECI ruling is based on merit and majority.

Murder of democracy, decision taken under pressure: Anil deshmukh

The Sharad Pawar camp on Tuesday described as the "murder of democracy" the Election Commission's decision to declare the Ajit Pawar faction as the real Nationalist Congress Party which it claimed was taken under pressure, whereas ex-Union minister Praful Patel welcomed the ruling.

The Commission also allotted the NCP symbol 'wall clock' to the group led by Ajit Pawar.

"This is the murder of democracy. What happened is unfortunate," former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh said.

(with PTI inputs)