NCP disqualification pleas verdict: My ruling is tenable and in accordance with SC guidelines, says Narwekar

Rahul Narvekar. File Pic

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday described his NCP disqualification pleas verdict recognising the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction as the real party as tenable, sustainable, and based on the principles established by the Supreme Court, reported the PTI.

Talking to reporters after delivering the verdict, Rahul Narwekar said that all the guidelines laid down by the apex court were adhered to.

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"A reasoned and justifiable order has been delivered today. This verdict is tenable, sustainable and justified. It has been given on the basis of the sound principles established in accordance with the guidelines given by the apex court and disqualification rules," Rahul Narwekar said, as per the PTI.

Reacting to the criticism by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP group and Shiv Sena (UBT), Narwekar said those who don't know about the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with anti-defection provisions, can make such a statement.

MP Supriya Sule from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) termed Narwekar's ruling "laughable and copy-paste" of what he had done in the Shiv Sena case where the factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray had filed disqualification petitions, according to the PTI.

An invisible power is actively trying to finish off Shiv Sena and NCP, two important state-based parties, she said.

"They can't talk on merit. They should comment on the difference between dissent and defection, inter-party dispute and voluntary giving up of party membership," Rahul Narwekar said, the news agency reported.

The speaker also sarcastically quipped that lawmaker Jitendra Awhad of the Sharad Pawar-led party, as well as Shiv Sena UBT leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray, were "constitutional experts", as per the PTI.

Meanwhile, Rahul Narwekar on Thursday held that the Ajit Pawar faction had "overwhelming" legislative majority when the party split while pronouncing the NCP disqualification pleas verdict, reported the PTI.

Rahul Narwekar said that the Ajit Pawar-led group was the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) when two factions emerged in July 2023, and dismissed disqualification petitions filed by both the Ajit and Sharad Pawar-led factions, reported the PTI.

"All the petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs are rejected," Rahul Narwekar said, reading out the ruling at the legislature complex in Mumbai.

(with PTI inputs)