Discontent Brews in NCP-Ajit Pawar Group Following Governor’s Legislative Council Appointments
Pune, 16th October 2024: The appointment of Governor-nominated MLCs had been pending for several months. While political parties were focused on when these appointments would be made, the Mahayuti Government sent seven names to the governor just hours before the code of conduct for the assembly elections was announced. After the governor approved the list, Deputy Speaker Neelam Gorhe administered the oath of office to all seven members on Tuesday (15th October).
The seven appointees include Hemant Patil (Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde Group), Manisha Kayande (Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde Group), Pankaj Bhujbal (Nationalist Congress Party-NCP, Ajit Pawar Group), Idris Ilyas Naikwadi (NCP, Ajit Pawar Group), Mahant Babusingh Maharaj (BJP, Banjara Samaj religious guru), Vikrant Patil (BJP), and Chitra Wagh (BJP), who will now serve in the Legislative Council.
However, the decision has caused discontent within the NCP-Ajit Pawar Group. Deepak Mankar, the group’s Pune city president, was overlooked for an MLC seat by the governor, prompting frustration among party members. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of NCP-Ajit Pawar Group Pune City Vice President Datta Sagare to discuss the issue.
Over the past 1.5 years, Mankar has worked to maintain the party’s prominence in Pune through large-scale events. In the meeting, disappointed party members indirectly criticized the appointments of Pankaj Bhujbal, the son of senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and Rupali Chakankar, without directly mentioning their names.
The members voiced their concerns, accusing the party of passing leadership roles from one generation to the next. In protest, 600 key party members unanimously resigned from their posts, stating that they would continue to work only as grassroots party workers. The officials also announced plans to meet with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the next two days to express their dissatisfaction.
