Numbers don’t matter as there is no split in NCP: Praful Patel

“The tenth schedule will come into play only when one wants to break the party or merge it with the other. We have done no such thing. The constitutional bench on Eknath Shinde matter has given remedy on inner-party disagreements. We held a meeting on June 30 and informed the decisions to the election commission. Apart from the commission, the decision maker with regard to legislators is Assembly Speaker whom we have already approached,” said Ajit Pawar camp’s senior leader Praful Patel in a press conference. Patel said that they have no plans of split or merger as they stand with majority and entire process has been completed as per the law and rule.

Patel claimed that since there is no split in the NCP, the issue of whether the Ajit Pawar camp has two-third majority does not arise. “We have much bigger number than two-third but this is unnecessary to talk about as it is not about split or merger,” he said.

The NCP has 53 MLAs and Ajit camp needs 36 MLAs to prove that two-third MLAs are with him. As of now, it has managed to register support of 33 MLAs.

The Ajit Pawar group has claimed that the party constitution was not followed while making appointments as no election was ever held within the party. When asked in that case how can the appointment of Ajit Pawar is constitutional and whether election was held to appoint him, Patel said that the party has submitted all the papers to the election commission and it will decide on the same. While claiming that the party belongs to Ajit camp, Patel said that it will not use violent methods to capture the party offices and will adopt legal route to claim party name and symbol.

Patel had earlier informed that the NCP held a meeting on June 30 in presence of many MLAs and MLCs at Devgiri – the official residence of Ajit Pawar. “In that meeting, Ajit Pawar was chosen as the leader. As a result, he appointed me as national working president. Later I informed state Assembly Speaker that Ajit Pawar as our leader of legislative party. We appointed Anil Patil as the whip through a letter signed by me. Simultaneously, state council chairman was informed that Amol Mitkari was named as the whip in Council,” said Patel.