Senior Counsel Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi on April 10th criticized the existing mechanism under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India that empowers the Speaker of a legislative house to decide on whether a legislator should be disqualified for defection to another political party.
The Supreme Court Today (April 4th) instructed the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to enhance the visibility of disclaimers in its election advertisements. This directive aims to ensure clarity regarding the use of the NCP’s clock symbol, indicating that it is contingent upon the outcome of a pending court case before the apex court.
The Supreme Court today granted permission to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction to use the name ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in India, along with the emblem ‘man blowing turha’. This decision was made amid a legal battle over the party’s leadership. The Court also instructed the Election Commission to recognize this faction and its symbol.
Today, the Bombay High Court issued notices to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and 10 MLAs associated with Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in response to petitions challenging the speaker’s decision not to disqualify them. Anil Patil, chief whip of the NCP, filed the petitions disputing the speaker’s ruling and is pushing for the disqualification of the 10 legislators. The matter is set for further hearing on March 14.
The Maharashtra Assembly Speaker’s decision dismissing NCP faction disqualification petitions has triggered a legal battle. The Ajit Pawar faction’s plea, contesting the Speaker’s decision, highlights the NCP’s internal strife. With the Bombay High Court set to hear the case, the outcome could significantly impact the party’s future and Maharashtra’s political landscape, posing broader questions about party dynamics and institutional roles.
The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to Sharad Pawar’s faction, allowing them to retain the name “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar” until further notice. The court directed the Election Commission to maintain this order and allocate a party symbol within one week. This legal battle sheds light on the complexities of internal dissent within Indian political parties.