With leaders exiting, NCP workers given oath of allegiance

With a number of leaders leaving the party, NCP workers here on Thursday were administered an oath of allegiance to party supremo Sharad Pawar. The oath was administered by NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade. Shirur MP Amol Kolhe and senior leader Ajit Pawar's son Parth were among those present at the event.

"Today is the death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who had taken the oath that `Swaraj' was his birthright. Taking cue from his famous oath, we too administered an oath to party workers," said Kakade. "...I have complete faith in Sharad Pawar saheb (Pawar is often referred to as `saheb') and I am committed to the ideology of the party, which was formed out of self- respect...It is my duty to be with Pawar saheb in his difficult times and to do that I am ready to face all the hardships...I will not leave the association till my last breath," the oath read.

Three NCP MLAs and party's Mumbai unit chief Sachin Ahir recently quit the party.