Have full faith in ECI to take right decision: Jayant Patil on NCP party name-symbol row

In the midst of a dispute with the faction led by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jayant Patil stated on Saturday that his faction trusts the Election Commission of India to take the right decision on the party name and symbol.

After Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, joined the Eknath Shinde administration on July 2, the Sharad Pawar-founded NCP broke apart. Both groups have petitioned the ECI for the party name and symbol. We have written to the ECI on the matter. These days the method of stealing parties is on but we have complete faith in the ECI to give the right decision, Patil told reporters.

Sharad Pawar is the founder and president of NCP. Some people are trying to push him aside,” he said in a swipe at Ajit Pawar who, immediately after the split, had said the NCP chief was over 80 years old and must give the reins of the outfit to the next generation of leaders.

Speaking on quota issues in the state, Patil said a caste census must be conducted to give justice to Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He also said Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar must take a quick decision on the disqualification pleas against several Shiv Sena MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.