A day after settling the dispute in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over party symbol in favour of the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday allotted Sharad Pawar faction the party name, “Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar”.
The decision was taken by the EC after the Sharad Pawar faction submitted three names – Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadrao Pawar, and NCP – Sharad Pawar.
“Sir, I am directed to refer to your letter dated 7th February, wherein the following three name preferences have been submitted: Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadrao Pawar and NCP- Sharad Pawar. In this connection, it is to mention that the competent authority, has acceded to your preference, i.e. Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar as the name of your group/faction as a one-time option for the purposes of forthcoming election to six seats in the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and Rule 39AA of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961,” read the note issued by the Under Secretary of the poll panel, Jusmeet Kaur to Sharad Pawar.
Earlier in the day, Sharad Pawar’s daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, while referring to Tuesday’s order of the Commission, said, “We already clarified yesterday that we are definitely moving to the Supreme Court. We are very optimistic because we know we are on the right side.”
In an order issued by the EC on Tuesday, it said, “The Commission holds that the faction led by the petitioner, Ajit Anantrao Pawar, is the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is entitled to use its name and reserved symbol ‘clock’ for the purposes of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.”
The final order of the poll panel came after more than 10 hearings which were held during a period of more than six months.
On July 1, 2023, the EC received a petition dated June 30, 2023 from Ajit Pawar wherein it was submitted that “Sharad Pawar who claims to be the national president is running the party in total disregard to the Constitution and Rules of the same”.