Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar, citing a recent Election Commission ruling recognizing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the leader of the 'real Nationalist Congress Party' (NCP), rejected petitions seeking the disqualification of 41 MLAs who rebelled against Sharad Pawar in June last year. These rebels, who aligned with Ajit Pawar and the BJP, triggering a split within the NCP, were spared disqualification as they were deemed to represent the "will of the party."

Narwekar asserted that the Ajit Pawar-led faction holds the true mandate of the NCP, backed by a legislative majority of 41 MLAs, which is undisputed. He emphasized that the rebel MLAs' alignment with Ajit Pawar, and their subsequent participation in forming a new state government, could not warrant disqualification as they aligned with the prevailing sentiment within the party.

Thus, Narwekar's decision reflects the acknowledgment of Ajit Pawar's leadership within the NCP and the recognition of the rebel MLAs' alignment with the faction holding the majority, thereby dismissing calls for their disqualification.

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar, citing a recent Election Commission ruling recognizing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the leader of the 'real Nationalist Congress Party' (NCP), rejected petitions seeking the disqualification of 41 MLAs who rebelled against Sharad Pawar in June last year. These rebels, who aligned with Ajit Pawar and the BJP, triggering a split within the NCP, were spared disqualification as they were deemed to represent the "will of the party."

Narwekar asserted that the Ajit Pawar-led faction holds the true mandate of the NCP, backed by a legislative majority of 41 MLAs, which is undisputed. He emphasized that the rebel MLAs' alignment with Ajit Pawar, and their subsequent participation in forming a new state government, could not warrant disqualification as they aligned with the prevailing sentiment within the party.

Thus, Narwekar's decision reflects the acknowledgment of Ajit Pawar's leadership within the NCP and the recognition of the rebel MLAs' alignment with the faction holding the majority, thereby dismissing calls for their disqualification.