Sharad Pawar removes Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare from party

A day after the party suffered a split, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday removed party vice president Praful Patel and MP Sunil Tatkare from the party “for indulging in anti-party activities”. Pawar said that NCP will also initiate appropriate proceedings for formal disqualification of these MPs. The action came hours after party’s working president Supriya Sule recommended action against the two leaders for “facilitating and spearheading swearing of nine MLAs as cabinet ministers” in BJP-Shiv Sena Maharashtra government. Ajit Pawar, who was the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, took oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday. Eight other MLAs joined the government.