NCP files disqualification petition against nine MLAs including Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who were sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government are being sought for disqualification, according to a suit filed against Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

According to sources, Jitendra Awhad personally submitted the petition at Narwekar's flat late on Sunday night after the NCP declared him the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly after Ajit Pawar joined the ruling alliance.

When contacted, Narwekar's office confirmed receipt of the petition. On Sunday, Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil said that his party has filed a request to remove Ajit Pawar and eight others from the post.

He said a message was also sent via email alerting the Election Commission of India that NCP rank-and-file members were with party leader Sharad Pawar.

Sharad Pawar's party, founded in 1999, saw a vertical split on Sunday after his nephew Ajit Pawar defected to become deputy chief minister of the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition.

Eight other NCP MLAs, including staunch supporters of Sharad Pawar Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, have been given ministerial berths.

These MLAs "cannot be called traitors as their treachery has not been proved yet," Patil said. "Many are in contact with us," he added.