Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 14: A fresh controversy has erupted within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after a senior party leader challenged the election of Sunetra Pawar as the party's national president, alleging that the organisational poll violated the party constitution and demanding a fresh election within 15 days. The party, however, has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the election was conducted in accordance with its rules.
The legal notice, issued on Jul 9 by Delhi-based law firm ARS Associates on behalf of NCP national secretary Sachchidanand Singh, contends that Sunetra Pawar's election on Feb 26 was unconstitutional and should be declared "null, void and non-est."
The notice has been addressed to NCP national president Sunetra Pawar, national working president Prafull Patel and general secretary Brijmohan Shrivastav. It alleges that the election process was initiated without complying with mandatory provisions of the party constitution and without issuing proper notice to delegates and office-bearers.
According to the notice, following the death of former NCP president Ajit Pawar on Jan 28, the party informed the Election Commission that Prafull Patel would function as acting national president until a new chief was elected.
Singh argued that the revised party constitution, submitted to the Election Commission on Feb 17, vested all presidential powers in the acting president until the election of a new national president. He claimed that only Patel had the authority to convene a meeting of the National Executive and questioned how general secretary Brijmohan Shrivastav called the meeting held on Feb 26.
The notice further alleged that the communication sent to the Election Commission on Feb 18 to convene the National Executive meeting had not been approved by the then members of the Executive, casting doubt on the validity of the subsequent election process.
It also claimed that Shrivastav proceeded to convene the national convention and initiate the election despite lacking constitutional authority.
"No duly constituted central election authority, returning officer or election calendar was put in place as required under the party constitution. Delegates were denied an opportunity to nominate candidates, contest or vote," the notice alleged.
Singh has demanded that the party withdraw communications sent to the Election Commission on Feb 28, Mar 10 and Apr 29 recording the election and the appointment of office-bearers. He has also sought fresh organisational elections to be conducted under an independent election authority.
The notice gives the party leadership 15 days to comply with the demands, failing which Singh has reserved the right to initiate legal proceedings.
Rejecting the allegations, NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan said Singh himself had attended the party's national convention on Feb 26 and supported Sunetra Pawar's election by raising his hand during the voting.
"All rules were followed in her election," Chavan said, dismissing the claims that the process was unconstitutional.