After being sworn in as the deputy CM, Ajit Pawar removed Sharad Pawar from the post of party president.

In a significant setback for veteran politician Sharad Pawar, the Election Commission has recognised the faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by his nephew, Ajit Pawar, as the “real” party. Citing the larger support base of MLAs within the assembly, the Election Commission has decided to grant the party”s recognition and symbol to Ajit Pawar”s faction, according to sources.

The Election Commission”s resolution of the NCP dispute in favor of Ajit Pawar”s faction comes after a series of deliberations spanning over 10 hearings held over six months. The commission has provided a one-time option to the smaller faction to claim a name for their new formation and submit three preferences to the Commission by 3 pm on February 7.

“The test of majority in the legislative wing found favour in this circumstance of the case, where both groups have found to be working outside the party constitution and the organisational elections,” the poll panel said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar reacted to the verdict saying, “We humbly accept the order of the Election Commission of India. The ECI has accepted the submissions made by our counsels and we thank the ECI.” He now plans to address a meeting with NCP ministers and some MLAs at his official residence in Mumbai.

Ajit Pawar was the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly. The NCP was split into two factions in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar and joined the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. After being sworn in as the deputy CM, Ajit Pawar removed Sharad Pawar from the post of party president, and wrote to the Election Commission seeking recognition of his faction as the real NCP. Both factions then staked claim to the party name and symbol before the Election Commission.

Among the first reactions to the development, Anil Desmukh, a senior leader of the Sharad Pawar faction, said, “The whole world knows who founded the NCP… So what the Election Commission did despite that is the murder of democracy by the election commission.”