‘Pressure on our MLAs from Ajit camp to switch’

Pune: As the day to hear both camps of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at the Election Commission of India (ECI) nears, MLA Rohit Pawar from the Sharad Pawar camp on Friday alleged that the other faction was using pressure tactics against their MLAs to compel them to switch sides.The Ajit Pawar faction filed a petition on Thursday with the state assembly speaker demanding disqualification of the 10 MLAs of the Sharad Pawar camp. Following the petition, there are speculations that an MLA and MP of the Sharad Pawar faction have extended their support to Ajit Pawar and submitted an affidavit. Rohit Pawar, who represents Karjat-Jamkhed in the assembly and is also the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, claimed that the MLAs are being threatened against the backdrop of these recent developments.“We have got some reports about pressure tactics being used against our MLAs. Any MLA would want to resolve the problems of his constituency but the other side is pressuring them by saying that neither will these works be taken up nor funds allotted to their constituency unless they join their faction,” Rohit Pawar said. On the petition, Pawar said that the speaker travelled to New Delhi to seek legal advice (on the disqualification of MLAs of Shiv Sena and NCP) and it appears that the petition was filed based on such advice. “Our side is taking legal steps as we know that this disqualification will ultimately go to court. We are confident that the verdict will be in our favour,” Pawar said. The grandnephew of Sharad Pawar also claimed that even though some MLAs and MPs are currently siding with the Ajit Pawar faction, once the election dates are announced, they will come back.He was recently given the responsibility of rejuvenating the Sharad Pawar faction in Pimpri Chinchwad. “At present they have gone seeking power but they also know that if they want to win the elections, they will have to return since NCP supporters are with Sharad Pawar,” he added.

Ajit group files pleas for disqualification of rival camp MLAs

The Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP has filed applications for the disqualification of 10 assembly members and three council members belonging to the Sharad Pawar faction. The applications were submitted to the legislature secretariat, citing a breach of rules. This move comes after the Sharad Pawar faction launched disqualification proceedings against Ajit Pawar and other party leaders who joined his camp. The Ajit Pawar group has also approached the Election Commission of India to be recognized as the real NCP. The ECI will hear the contentions of both factions on October 6.

Pawar camp threatens stir over GR

The Sharad Pawar camp of NCP in Pune has threatened a statewide agitation if the government resolution (GR) to fill up contract-based posts is not withdrawn in the next two weeks. NCP workers and MPSC aspirants participated in a hunger strike to protest against the decision. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar defended the move, stating that it is temporary and the government is in the process of recruiting 150,000 candidates for different departments. He accused the opposition of misleading the public.

Maha BJP prez in damage control mode over MLCs remarks against Ajit Pawar

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has apologized to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for a remark made by BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar, calling him a wolf. Bawankule clarified that his party does not support Padalkar's views and that his statement is not in line with the culture of the BJP. Padalkar's statement has caused discomfort within the ruling alliance of BJP-Shiv Sena, and senior BJP leaders are now in damage control mode. Bawankule also expressed confidence in speaker Rahul Narvekar's ability to handle the issue of the disqualification of 16 MLAs.