The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president Sunil Tatkare on Monday expelled a councillor from the Baramati municipal council for allegedly making a controversial statement regarding party leader Ajit Pawar. Councillor Kishor Masal, who was considered to be closely associated with Ajit Pawar and was elected unopposed to the Baramati municipal council polls on an NCP ticket, faced expulsion after an audio clip surfaced on social media.
Audio Clip Controversy
The purported audio clip of a phone call featured Masal allegedly making a controversial remark about Ajit Pawar while speaking to an unidentified woman. The clip quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from party members and leaders. NCP (SP) working president and Ajit Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule also condemned Masal for his statement.
Initial Apology and Denial
After facing backlash, Masal initially tendered an apology for his remarks. However, he later changed his stance, claiming that the voice in the audio clip was not his. Despite his denial, the party took serious note of the incident.
Expulsion from the Party
Tatkare, while interacting with the media in Mumbai on Monday, stated that the party had taken serious cognisance of Masal’s statement. He announced that Masal has been expelled from the party with immediate effect. The action underscores the NCP’s strict stance against any statements that undermine its leadership or party discipline.
