Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar reiterated that Ajit Pawar-led group was the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) when two factions emerged in the party in July 2023. Mr Narwekar said the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution can not be used to stifle internal dissent.
Mr.Narvekar dismissed disqualification petitions filed by the factions led by Ajit Pawar
and his uncle Sharad Pawar against each other’s legislators. The Speaker noted that the Ajit group had overwhelming legislative majority of 41 out of 53 party MLAs when it decided to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July 2023.He noted that due to this majority the Ajit Pawar group was, the real political party when the factions emerged.