No dispute in NCP, few mischievous individuals defected from outfit for personal ambitions: Sharad Pawar-led faction to EC

Mumbai: The Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP on Saturday said that it has told the Election Commission that there was no dispute in the party, except that a few mischievous individuals have defected from the organisation for their personal ambitions, a reference to the rebel group headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

In a statement, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by the former Union minister said the Election Commission (EC) had sought its response to a petition filed by Ajit Pawar, and the party submitted its “preliminary response” to the poll panel on September 7.

“We have established the recurring contradictory stands of Ajit Pawar and how he has, without any legal or material basis, made a claim before the Election Commission,” the Sharad Pawar faction said.

“We have communicated to the Election Commission that there exists no dispute within the party and that except for a few mischievous individuals, who for their personal ambitions, have defected from the party,” it said.

It further stressed that the organisation remains intact and overwhelmingly united behind party president Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde-led government in July this year, leading to a in a split in the party. Ajit Pawar later staked claim to the NCP.