Sharad Pawar-led NCP expels Nitesh Karale for six years hours before Nagpur graduates' poll

A key decision has come just hours before polling in the Nagpur graduates' constituency election. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has expelled its leader Nitesh Karale, known as Master, from the party for six years. Karale had rebelled in this election, after which the party took the step.

The party has also announced support for the Congress's official candidate, Abhijit Wanjari, and has issued an official statement on the matter. The party now stands openly with Wanjari.

The reason given for the action is violation of party discipline. Karale, known as Guruji, is accused of going against the party's decision and filing nomination papers as an independent candidate in the Nagpur graduates' election. He is also accused of creating confusion among voters by claiming that he had Sharad Pawar's blessings in the election. He has further been accused of contesting against Wanjari, the official candidate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The letter on the action, signed by the party's general secretary Ravindra Pawar, has come to light. The letter says that claiming to have Sharad Pawar's blessings in the election is a clear violation of the party's discipline, its policies and the decisions of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. According to the letter, on the directions of the party's state president and senior leadership, he is being expelled from the party for six years for breaking party discipline, and he should take note of this.

Karale is known on social media for his controversial statements and his unconventional style of teaching. For the past few days he had been campaigning against the Aghadi.

All eyes are now on what effect this action, taken only hours before polling, will have on the election.