Dimapur, Feb. 18 -- The disqualification petition filed by the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP against the seven party MLAs in Nagaland has been dismissed by Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer on the ground that the Election Commission of India recognised Ajit Pawar as the leader of the NCP.

The Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP had filed the petition against the MLAs, who were elected to the state assembly in the 2023 state assembly election on the NCP ticket, for siding with Ajit Pawar faction of NCP which joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition in Maharashtra.

Dismissing the petition, the Speaker, in an order dated February 16, said the seven NCP MLAs - Er Picto Shohe, P Longon, Namri Nchang, Y Mho...