EVEN as the Ajit Pawar-led NCP said its doors are open for those wanting to join its ranks in the wake of the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s decision recognising it as the real NCP, Sharad Pawar’s party, which now faces the challenge of keeping its flock together, is putting up a brave front. The setback notwithstanding, the party claimed there is unrest in Ajit Pawar’s ranks, which will see their “ghar wapsi”.
“There is unrest in Ajit Pawar’s camp. Many MLAs are in touch with us and they have expressed their wish to cross over to our side… There will soon be a ‘ghar wapsi’,” said former minister Anil Deshmukh, who is with Sharad Pawar’s camp.
On Tuesday, the Sharad Pawar camp landed in a turmoil as the ECI recognised the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar as the real NCP and gave it control over the party name and ‘clock’ symbol.
Deshmukh claimed not only MLAs who joined hands with Ajit Pawar are unhappy, even BJP MLAs are upset. “Our party is intact and will remain so even after the EC verdict. But our rivals have a problem on hand. Many MLAs from our rivals will join our ranks before the elections. As of now, they are with their parties as they need funds for development of their constituencies. But that will change soon,” the former minister said.
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP, however, pooh-phoohed the idea of MLAs exiting its ranks. “Now that we are the real NCP, there is no question of anyone exiting our ranks. In fact, there will be migration to our fold soon,” NCP chief spokesperson Umesh Patil told this paper.
Patil said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had been saying that the party’s doors are open for one and all. “Even now after the EC verdict, he has maintained the same position. Our doors are open for everyone,” he said.
The NCP said 95 per cent of the party was already with Ajit Pawar. “Ninety-five per cent of the legislative and organisational party is with Ajit Pawar. A handful of them have a problem due to their political convenience. Some leaders want to contest elections from a particular constituency, which is with the BJP or Shinde Sena. They fear they will not get to contest and, therefore, they are not with us. Everyone has political ambitions which we cannot deny,” he said.