Sharad Pawar faction to move Supreme Court against EC ruling in favour of Ajit

The Sharad Pawar camp of the Nationalist Congress Party will move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission decision recognising the faction led by his nephew Ajit Pawar as the real NCP.

In a big setback to senior Pawar, the EC also allotted the party's poll symbol 'Clock' to the Ajit Pawar group.

The Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister said the EC ruling underlined the priority assigned to the majority in a democracy. "In a democracy, priority is given to the majority which is why the poll commission has allotted the party name and symbol to us," Ajit Pawar said.

He said 50 NCP MLAs are with his camp, besides most of the district presidents in the state and chiefs of the party cells (frontal organisations).

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel said the EC ruling proves that the majority of party workers and elected representatives are with Ajit Pawar.

Sharad Pawar's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule termed the decision as a victory of "invisible power" and conspiracy against the people of the state. "This is a huge conspiracy against Maharashtra and Marathi people. However, I am not at all surprised by this decision," she said.

Sharad Pawar loyalist and former state minister Anil Deshmukh dubbed the decision a "murder of democracy". "What happened is unfortunate. The poll panel gave this ruling under pressure from above,” Deshmukh told a TV channel.

Maharashtra NCP president (Sharad Pawar group) Jayant Patil said the Supreme Court is the "last hope" for them and they are expecting a stay on the EC ruling.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy from BJP, Devendra Fadnavis, welcomed the poll body's decision.

"The Election Commission has given the verdict based on merit and majority. The majority has an important role in democracy. The ECI has taken a similar decision during our case as well," said Shinde, who heads Shiv Sena.

He said the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP led by Ajit Pawar will win more than 45 LS seats in Maharashtra and the assembly elections as well.

Also Watch: Ajit Pawar's first reaction after EC says his faction is 'real NCP'