Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar will start hearing on NCP disqualification pleas, seeking disqualification of MLAs from rival Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions from January 23, a leader of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP said on Saturday, reported the PTI.

The NCP split in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight party MLAs joined the Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led state government. Since then, both factions have laid claim to the party name and symbol and have petitioned the Speaker seeking disqualification of those owing allegiance to the other side.