Today, Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), filed a petition with the Supreme Court regarding the Election Commission of India’s recent decision to acknowledge his nephew and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar’s faction, as the “authentic NCP”. On February 6, the ECI determined Ajit Pawar’s faction to be the legitimate NCP based on the majority test in the legislative wing, allowing them to utilize the ‘clock’ symbol for the party.
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Sharad Pawar, the veteran politician and founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has taken legal action against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) recent decision. The ECI’s ruling, which favored his nephew Ajit Pawar’s faction by declaring it the “real NCP” and awarding it the party’s iconic ‘clock’ symbol, has sparked a significant controversy and led to a legal challenge in the Supreme Court.
On February 6, the ECI, applying a majority test within the legislative wing of the party, concluded that Ajit Pawar’s faction held the majority support among NCP’s Maharashtra State Assembly legislators. Out of 81 NCP MLAs, 57 supported Ajit Pawar, overshadowing Sharad Pawar’s backing of 28 affidavits. This decision effectively recognized Ajit Pawar’s leadership over the NCP and entitled his faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol, a symbol synonymous with the party since its inception.
The ECI’s verdict did not stop at the allocation of the party symbol; it also led to the rebranding of Sharad Pawar’s faction to ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’. This rebranding came after Sharad Pawar’s faction proposed alternative names and symbols, including ‘Sharad Pawar Congress’, ‘Mi Rashtrawadi’, ‘Sharad Swabhimani’, and symbols like ‘tea cup’, ‘sunflower’, and ‘rising sun’.
Sharad Pawar’s response to the ECI’s decision was one of profound disappointment and disbelief. Speaking to reporters in Pune, he expressed his dismay, stating that the Election Commission had “snatched” the party from its founders and handed it over to others.
He remarked:
“The EC snatched the party from the hands of those who founded and built it and gave it to others; such a thing never happened before in the country,”
-reflecting on the unprecedented nature of the ECI’s decision. Founded in 1999 after splitting from the Congress, the NCP under Sharad Pawar has been a significant political force in Maharashtra and beyond.
The legal challenge posed by Sharad Pawar in the Supreme Court seeks to overturn the ECI’s decision, arguing for the legitimacy of his leadership and the original faction of the NCP. This case not only highlights the internal strife within the NCP but also raises questions about the criteria and processes used by the ECI in determining the legitimacy of party factions and the allocation of party symbols.
ALSO READ: Ajit Pawar Faction Brings ‘Real NCP’ Dispute To Supreme Court
As the Supreme Court gears up to hear Sharad Pawar’s plea, the political community and the public eye remain fixed on what is set to be a landmark case. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the NCP and the broader political framework in India, potentially setting precedents for how party disputes and factionalism are addressed by the nation’s electoral authority.
This legal battle underscores the complexities of political party dynamics in India and the crucial role of the Election Commission in maintaining the democratic and orderly conduct of political affairs. As developments unfold, the case promises to be a significant chapter in the annals of India’s political history, with the potential to redefine party politics and the interpretation of electoral laws in the country.
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