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Synopsis

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has recognized the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and dismissed all disqualification petitions against both the Sharad Pawar faction and the Ajit Pawar faction.

This decision follows the split in the party in July 2023, with Ajit Pawar's faction joining the Eknath Shinde-led government.

Subsequently, Sharad Pawar filed disqualification petitions against the Ajit Pawar faction. In response, cross-petitions were filed by the Ajit Pawar faction seeking the disqualification of the Sharad Pawar faction.

The Speaker's decision acknowledged that the Ajit Pawar faction had the support of the majority of MLAs.

“The Ajit Pawar faction had an overwhelming legislative majority when the rival factions emerged. Ajit Pawar's claim that his faction had the support of 41 out of 53 MLAs is not disputed by the petitioners. Even otherwise the resolution passed by the Ajit Pawar faction shows that prior to joining the Government the Ajit Pawar faction outnumbered the Sharad Pawar faction,” Narwekar said,

The Speaker also noted that the collective dissent would remain a dissent within the political party even when it began to be raised publicly.

“Members of the party expressing concerns against certain political behaviour of other party members would not constitute defection under the Tenth Schedule. Such collective dissent would remain a dissent within the political party even when it began to be raised publicly, on platforms other than party forums. It may not be to the liking of this leader or that, but it would remain to be a dissent and not desertion" the speaker said

It was also observed that the Ajit Pawar Faction could not be disqualified as it represented the will of the NCP.

Therefore, the speaker allowed the Ajit Pawar-led faction to use the party logo while recognizing them as the real NCP.