Supreme Court Deliberates on NCP Leadership Dispute

The Supreme Court has requested responses from Ajit Pawar and his 40 MLAs regarding a plea from the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP. This plea challenges the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker's decision to recognize Ajit Pawar's group as the legitimate NCP. The issue is set for an urgent hearing due to the approaching end of the Assembly's term.

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from Ajit Pawar and his 40 MLAs about a plea by the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP. This plea challenges the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's decision declaring Ajit Pawar's group as the legitimate NCP.

A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra noted advocate Abhishek Singhvi's submissions on behalf of the Sharad Pawar faction. The plea requests an urgent hearing, keeping in mind the short remaining tenure of the state Assembly, which expires in November.

The court will hear the plea filed by Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from the Sharad Pawar faction after addressing a similar petition from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray camp of the Shiv Sena. Narwekar previously ruled that Ajit Pawar's faction, which holds the legislative majority, is the true NCP. This ruling followed the Election Commission's similar decision.

(With inputs from agencies.)