In a major political blow to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, all seven MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party in Nagaland have quit the party and joined the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
The defection, announced in the presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, significantly weakens NCP’s presence outside Maharashtra and complicates its bid for national party status. Nagaland was the only other state where the party had a substantial base and vote share.
Ajit Pawar, who was in Pune on Sunday, responded to the development, saying he had been unwell and only learned about the defection that morning. “Two to three months ago, these MLAs met me in Mumbai and shared their dissatisfaction. They said their work was being ignored. I had conveyed their concerns to the CM, who responded positively,” he said.
Since all seven MLAs switched together, the anti-defection law does not apply. Notably, these legislators had earlier backed Ajit Pawar when he split from Sharad Pawar’s NCP and aligned with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
