Maharashtra: ‘Defying Sharad Pawar defection’

In a repeat of the verdict he had delivered on the Shiv Sena feud, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has held Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and dismissed pleas for disqualifying MLAs from both warring groups. Narwekar's judgment on Thursday followed the Election Commission's verdict that had also allotted the party's original name and election symbol to Ajit Pawar's faction.

The Speaker considered the legislative majority of the Ajit Pawar group, which has 41 out of 53 MLAs. He did not consider organisational disputes in deciding the matter in view of various claims made by rival factions. The Speaker said that the leadership structure cannot be taken into account. "It is a fact that till June 29, 2023, there had been no contemporaneous challenge to the leadership of Sharad Pawar, which was sought to be altered through a resolution of June 30 by the Ajit Pawar faction. Therefore, two claims existed on June 30, 2023, when two rival factions emerged."

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. File pic

"Whether rival NCP elections were in keeping with the Constitution and rules and whether Sharad Pawar was validly elected or if Sharad Pawar resigned at the relevant time, I possess no jurisdiction on this. I cannot go into this inquiry. It cannot be a basis to determine a preliminary issue," he said.

"Petitioners submitted that in a national committee, Sharad Pawar enjoyed majority support. But it did not provide supporting evidence. Such claims cannot be adjudicated and parties had to initiate relevant proceedings before the authority concerned. I hold that the leadership structure cannot be taken into account to determine the preliminary issue [real political party] as it will be an impossible attempt," he further read.

The Speaker added that it was an internal issue of the NCP that neither Ajit Pawar nor Sharad Pawar had quit, and hence the 10th schedule cannot be considered for taking action. He also said that political dissent within a party cannot be said to be an anti-party activity under the 10th schedule of the Constitution.

'Copy & paste order'

Saying it was very much expected, NCP leader Supriya Sule termed the order as a copy and paste of the one in the Shiv Sena dispute. "It is just like the Sena one ... there is no novelty in it...," she said.

Her party colleague Jitendra Awhad accused Narwekar of changing the very meaning of the Constitution's 10th schedule (about defections). "He has changed everything for his own convenience. He says he cannot decide the NCP's internal matter. How can a wrestling bout end in a draw?" he asked.

Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said on social media, "The Speaker, in the role of the tribunal, should try stand-up comedy. He seems to be great at making a big joke of the democracy and Constitutional values we uphold."

'Why no disqualification?'

NCP (Ajit Pawar) whip and minister Anil Bhaidas Patil said his party was a little upset because the Speaker had dismissed its petition for disqualifying 10 MLAs (of the other faction). "We think that our petitions should have been considered under the 10th schedule. We will read the order and appeal against it in an appropriate forum," he told the media after Narwekar's deliverance.

41
No of MLAs who have gone with Ajit Pawar

June 30
Day Sharad Pawar's leadership was challenged