7 NCP MLAs from Nagaland to be felicitated in Mumbai

KOHIMA — The president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Nagaland unit, Vanthungo Odyuo, has expressed confidence that the Election Commission of India’s decision will be “in favour” of Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

Odyuo, who is currently camping in Mumbai, told this to Eastern Mirror over the phone when asked about the disqualification petition filed against seven NCP MLAs from Nagaland by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP has the “majority” support both in Maharashtra and Nagaland; he has solid support of the NCP Nagaland unit, including the seven MLAs and all the ranks and files, he said, adding that 41 out of 53 MLAs in Maharashtra as well as one MP each in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are in his favour.

He said that he along with the seven NCP MLAs from Nagaland has been in Mumbai for the past few days to discuss the matters at hand. He added that they will attend a combined felicitation of Nagaland and Maharashtra NCP MLAs, which will be held today, Tuesday, in Mumbai.

It may be mentioned that the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, had earlier written to the ECI to stake claims to the party’s name and symbol, an ‘Alarm clock’. On this, Odyuo is optimistic that Ajit Pawar group will win.

NCP President Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar joined Shiv Sena-BJP government in July this year before being inducted as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister for the fifth time.

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