The factional feud in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has, so far, grabbed eyeballs.
The spotlight was on two meetings today - one called by Sharad Pawar at Nariman Point and the other called by Ajit Pawar in Bandra.
As many as 35 of 53 NCP MLAs were present at the party meeting convened by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday, party sources said, while the 83-year-old Pawar's NCP faction managed to get 13 MLAs after cracking a whip on them.
The number will increase further, the sources said. Five of eight NCP MLCs are also attending the meeting taking place in suburban Bandra, they said.
According to former principal secretary of Maharashtra Legislature Anant Kalse, Ajit Pawar camp needs the support of at least 36 MLAs to avoid disqualification.
Ajit wants to become chief minister
Ajit Pawar expressed his desire to go further in his political career, saying, "I want to become Maharashtra chief minister to implement certain plans I have for people''s welfare"
He also said pointed a finger at the NCP veteran for his decision to break away from the Congress.
Photo row
Sharad Pawar objected to his big photo adorning the stage at a parallel meeting of the party convened by his nephew Ajit Pawar, and said those using his image are aware that they have nothing else.
Addressing a meeting at Chavan Centre in south Mumbai, where around a dozen of 53 NCP MLAs were present, 83-year-old Pawar criticised his nephew for going with BJP for power, despite PM Narendra Modi calling NCP a corrupt party.
On Ajit Pawar-led faction approaching Election Commission and staking claim to the party symbol, the veteran politician assured his supporters that he won’t allow anyone to snatch the party symbol.
Senior Pawar's residence thronged
The NCP chief's supporters thronged his residence in south Mumbai on Wednesday, hours ahead of the show of strength meetings convened by him and Ajit Pawar who parted ways to become the deputy chief minister.
Outside Silver Oak, the senior Pawar’s residence in south Mumbai, a party worker was seen carrying a banner which read: '83-year-old warrior waging a fight alone'.
Supporters of Ajit Pawar also gathered outside his Devgiri official residence, also in south Mumbai, before he left to attend the meeting at Bandra.
“We are hard core Dada (as Ajit Pawar is called) supporters. We have come all the way from Baramati,” an NCP worker told the media outside Devgiri.
MLA Anil Patil claimed that as many as 40 of the 53 party MLAs are with Ajit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar's jibe at his uncle
Surrounded by party workers, including 32 of NCP’s 53 MLAs, deputy chief minister Ajit reminded his 83-year-old uncle Sharad Pawar that it was time for him to retire.
"In BJP, leaders retire at 75, when are you going to stop,” Ajit Pawar said, speaking at the meeting convened by him in suburban Bandra as a show of strength.
“Everybody has his innings. The most productive years are from 25 to 75 years,” 63-year-old Ajit Pawar said.
He also blamed Sharad Pawar for NCP losing out on the chance to have a chief minister in 2004. “We had more MLAs than Congress in 2004, but our senior leader allowed Congress to bag the CM's post,” he said.
Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s supporters thronged his residence in south Mumbai on Wednesday, hours ahead of the show of strength meetings convened by him and his nephew Ajit Pawar who has parted ways to become Maharashtra deputy chief minister.
Outside Silver Oak, the senior Pawar’s residence in south Mumbai, a party worker was seen carrying a banner which read: '83-year-old warrior waging a fight alone'.
Supporters of Ajit Pawar also gathered outside his Devgiri official residence, also in south Mumbai, before he left to attend the meeting at Bandra.
“We are hard core Dada (as Ajit Pawar is called) supporters. We have come all the way from Baramati,” an NCP worker told the media outside Devgiri.
MLA Anil Patil claimed that as many as 40 of the 53 party MLAs are with Ajit Pawar.
These will be the first meetings involving all functionaries for both factions since the party split on Sunday after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil and Hasan Mushrif, joined the Eknath Shinde government.
Both factions have claimed that they have most MLAs with them.