We made the move after consulting legal experts to avoid disqualification: Bhujbal
The Hindu
Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said the recent developments in the party happened after legal experts were consulted to escape disqualification.
Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Thursday said the recent developments in the party, culminating in Ajit Pawar taking oath as Deputy CM, happened after legal experts were consulted to escape disqualification.
Addressing a news conference here, Mr. Bhujbal also said that Mr. Ajit Pawar and other leaders will decide on whether to use photos of Sharad Pawar on posters.
Even after Sharad Pawar said his photo should be used only with his permission and by people who were of the same ideology, his photo featured on a poster set on stage where Ajit Pawar’s faction met on Wednesday.
Mr. Bhujbal said 42 to 43 NCP MLAs have signed affidavits in support of Ajit Pawar.
"When it was decided to join the government under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, law experts were consulted and decisions were taken thereafter,” he said.
“After consulting two-four experts, steps were taken to escape disqualification," Bhujbal said.
The party's constitution and electoral rules were followed before joining the government headed by Eknath Shinde, he said.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.