6 NCP legislators had signed for both Sharad Pawar and nephew

Mumbai: From the Election Commission of India (ECI) order, it was learnt that one Lok Sabha member and five members of the state legislative assembly had signed affidavits in favour of both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. In an order on February 6, the ECI had recognised the faction led by Ajit Pawar as the real NCP and allotted party name and symbol to his party. According to reports, the MP has been identified as Amol Kolhe, who has been elected from Shirur, while Ashok Pawar, Chetan Tupe, Kiran Lahanmathe, Rajendra Shingane and Mansingh Naik are the legislators who had signed the affidavit in favour of both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar.Ashok Pawar, elected from Shirur assembly constituency, confirmed he had signed the affidavits in favour of both Sharad Pawar and Ajit, but said it was a mistake and claimed he is a true follower of Sharad Pawar. “When we were called to Deogiri, the official residence of Ajit Pawar, I had signed the affidavit in good faith. I was told the affidavit has been drafted as per instructions of Sharad Pawar. I was in dark on Ajit Pawar’s decision to form a separate party. When I found the ground reality, I submitted a fresh affidavit in support of Sharad Pawar,” said Ashok Pawar said. — Prafulla Marpakwar