‘Sacked’ NCP working president Praful Patel names Ajit Pawar as legislature party leader

Mumbai: Soon after being removed as NCP’s working president, Praful Patel on Monday evening announced the appointment of Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare as party’s state unit chief in place of Jayant Patil, and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar as the legislature party chief. appointed leader. Earlier, NCP President Sharad Pawar had expelled both Patel and Tatkare MPs from the party, who had rebelled against Ajit Pawar.

Rajya Sabha MP Patel, who was named NCP working president last month, told a press conference here that he had informed Patel to hand over the charge to Tatkare. Patel said that Ajit Pawar will be the leader of the NCP Legislature Party. Patel said, “Today is Guru Purnima; we all wish that Sharad Pawar continues to bless us.”

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was present at the press conference, said he has the support of “maximum” NCP MLAs and has given a letter to the Speaker, seeking disqualification of party MLAs Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from the House. ,

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Ajit Pawar said the party and MLAs are with him and the disqualification notice against him and the eight newly sworn-in ministers is meaningless.

The Deputy CM said that the party is with him and his election symbol (clock) is also there.

“Whatever we are doing is in the interest of the party. We will further strengthen our party,” he said.

Asked who is the national chief of the NCP, Ajit Pawar retorted, “The national president of the party is Sharad Pawar. Have you forgotten?”

He said that the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly is appointed by the Speaker and not by any party functionary.

In other appointments announced by Patel, Rupali Chakankar has been named chief of the NCP’s state women’s wing, while MLCs Amol Mitkari and Anand Paranjpe will be spokespersons. Suraj Chavan has been appointed as the president of the youth wing of the party in Maharashtra.