Pawar-led NCP is seeking legal opinion to tackle the crisis

Pawar-led NCP is seeking legal opinion to tackle the crisis

Pawar-led NCP is seeking legal opinion to tackle the crisis

The rival NCP factions led by veteran leader Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar will hold separate meetings in Mumbai on Wednesday even as the former is seeking legal opinion to tackle the crisis in the party. The Pawar-led NCP has issued a one-line whip to all party MLAs asking them to remain present at the meeting.

The NCP, founded by Pawar in 1999, suffered a vertical split on Sunday after Ajit pulled off a surprise revolt and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. Ajit took oath as the deputy chief minister while eight of his loyal MLAs were also inducted into the Eknath Shinde cabinet.

The last two days witnessed a series of sackings in the party with both the factions claiming to be the real NCP and to have the support of majority of the MLAs. On Monday, Pawar expelled party working president Praful Patel and general secretary Sunil Tatkare who had sided with his nephew in the rebellion. He also expelled three other leaders for attending the swearing in of Ajit.

In a tit-for-tat move, the Ajit group sacked state unit president Jayant Patil appointed Tatkare as the new head. Ajit was also elected as the leader of NCP legislature party.

The NCP led by Pawar has moved a petition before Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking the disqualification of Ajit and eight other MLAs who have taken oath as ministers.

The NCP has 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Wednesday's meetings are likely to give a clear picture on the number of legislators supporting each group. The one-line whip issued by chief whip Jitendra Awhad said the meeting has been convened by Pawar at 1 pm at YB Chavan Centre on July 5 and the presence of all MLAs is mandatory.

Meanwhile, NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Pawar, who returned from Satara on Monday night, is holding discussions with legal experts on how to handle the ongoing developments.

"Taking a legal opinion is necessary as this issue concerns Schedule 10 of the constitution," he said.

The 10th Schedule, which talks about the anti-defection law, is designed to prevent political defections prompted by the lure of office, material benefits or similar considerations. It also deals with the issue of disqualification on the ground of defection and the role of the speaker or the chairman of the House.