Sanjay Raut condemns EC's decision on NCP split, 'It has backstabbed democracy'

Sanjay Raut/ File Photo

Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, fiercely condemned the Election Commission's decision to recognise Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Raut accused the EC of undermining democracy with its verdict.

Raut expressed his displeasure at the injustices endured by NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray during a press conference in Mumbai. He said that the EC's judgement hurt the Shiv Sena and the NCP, both of which preserve Marathi identity.

Raut called the EC's decision a betrayal of democracy and denounced the ongoing disqualification proceedings against NCP MLAs, claiming that the situation was being manipulated by political interests.

Raut, according to PTI, said, "The Election Commission has stabbed democracy in the back."

Referring to the ongoing disqualification proceedings against NCP MLAs filed by the two rival factions, Raut added, "Now to murder democracy, the matter has been given to (Maharashtra assembly speaker) Rahul Narwekar."

He confirmed that the actual Shiv Sena and NCP are led by the Thackerays and Sharad Pawar, respectively, and dismissed the legitimacy of competing movements.

Raut also asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to form their parties and face voters directly.

The EC's decision to assign the NCP emblem 'clock' to Ajit Pawar's faction was a severe defeat for Sharad Pawar.

Sharad Pawar plans to move SC

NCP leader (Sharad Pawar) Jayant Patil had told media that the party will now approach the Supreme Court and that the top court is their 'last hope'. Patil, who heads the state unit of NCP, told 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."

Meanwhile, the party workers are rallying behind Sharad Pawar, posters have been put up outside their Mumbai office saying that despite EC's order, the camp led by the party founder won for they are still under the wings of their patriarch.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar group has already filed a caveat in the top court seeking hearing whenever Sharad Pawar camp contests EC decision in court.