After NCP split, the war: Ajit Pawar’s ‘MLAs with me’ vs Sharad Pawar’s ‘people with us’

The NCP chief, however, is inclined to take the battle to the people’s court rather than proceed along the legal route.

While Ajit claimed the support of all MLAs out of 53, only 16 or 17 were present when he took oath at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday afternoon.

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Swinging into action, NCP chief Sharad Pawar appointed his trusted aide, Jitendra Awhad, as the new Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. Awhad is now also the NCP Chief Whip in the House.

Sources close to Ajit claimed that more than two-third NCP legislators have signed the letter of support to him and that the number is “more than 36”.

Awhad reacted saying that such claims mean nothing. He said: “The only leader of the NCP is Sharad Pawar. Let him call each MLA; then we will talk.”

He also asserted that Ajit Pawar was blamed by Shinde and other MLAs as the reason why the MVA government of the NCP-Sena-Congress alliance was toppled, but now both sides are “shaking hands”. Indicating the party will leave no stone unturned to make this an electoral issue, Awhad asked, “Do you really think the common people do not understand this?”

Even late on Sunday, however, sources in both camps maintained silence over the possibility of a legal battle to claim the party.

Sharad Pawar shrugged off a question on this and said he will approach the people of the state directly. “I have done it in the past in the 1980s and I will do it again. I believe the people of this state and the youth,” he said.

Sources in the party, however, pointed out that a conflict between the two sides is inevitable in near future. “If each side is going to claim itself as the real NCP, the conflict is set to spill out in the open. Irrespective of the maturity of leaders, the party workers will not accept (any ambiguity),” a party leader said.

For Ajit’s side, the issue of MVA is done and dusted, while Chief Minister Shinde termed the MVA as a ship that has already sunk.

Ajit clarified that the NCP will contest the next elections with the BJP and the Shinde Sena.

Congress chief Nana Patole, meanwhile, claimed that a group within the NCP joining hands with the BJP means no harm to the MVA.

“Who is joining hands with whom for the sake of power is clear for all. It will be the Congress which will win the upcoming elections,” he asserted.