Rivals try to control NCP after rebellion

Disqualification notices out against nine legislators, two members of Parliament for joining the Ajit Pawar camp

- SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI

 

MONTHS after the Sena versus Sena political and legal slugfest in Maharashtra, another one is brewing, this time between blood relatives in the NCP first family.

With the Ajit Pawar faction bolting to join the state government, NCP state president Jayant Patil announced the sacking of the party’s chief whip Anil Patil, who was sworn as a minister along with Ajit on Sunday. In his place, Jitendra Awhad was named the new chief whip and leader of the Opposition. Later, Awhad delivered the party’s disqualification petition against all nine NCP MLAs who joined the government, to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.