I'm still effective, Sharad Pawar's NCP expels 11 leaders

The working committee of the Nationalist Congress Party has approved the decision to expel rebel leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare and nine others from the party. Briefing the media in New Delhi, party leader P C Chacko said eight resolutions were passed in the meeting. Pawar also said the "truth will come out" on Ajit Pawar' claim of having majority. Chacko said the organisation was behind Pawar. Sharad Pawar was elected national president. We don't take seriously claims of someone being national president. "Our organisation still intact and we are with Sharad Pawar," Chacko asserted.The resolutions passed by the working committee include a stand against the undemocratic and unconstitutional actions of the BJP government and the misuse of government agencies against the Opposition. The NCP chief also responded to Ajit Pawar's retirement jibe at him, saying “I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92.” Pawar had called a national executive meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party at his Delhi residence. PC Chacko, Jitendra Awhad, Fauzia Khan and Vandana Chavan among others were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar-led faction said in a statement that the NCP working committee meeting called by Sharad Pawar in Delhi has no legal sanctity. The Ajit Pawar faction has already declared the national executive meet illegal. "No person within the party has any authority to call for any meeting of the National Executive/National Working Committee/ National Office Bearers / State Party Presidents till such time the dispute is finally decided by the ECI," read a statement issued by the faction. Ajit Pawar was elected as the National President of NCP on June 30 with the overwhelming support of the majority of elected representatives of the NCP as well as the members working at different organizational posts. Ajit Pawar has also filed a petition before the Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that he represents the real NCP and therefore, the name of the party along with the symbol be granted to him.