Pooja Mahabadi, Pune
The Election Commission has asked both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), one headed by Sharad Pawar and the other led by his nephew Ajit Pawar as they both claim to be the “real parties”, to appear before the court on the 6th of October 2023.
The Election Commission after a close analysis said, “After due consideration of the totality of the information available on record, the Commission has arrived at the conclusion that there are two rival groups in the Nationalist Congress Party, one led by Sharad Pawar and the other led by Ajit Anantrao Pawar. Since each group is claiming to be the party the matter requires a substantive determination by the Commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment ) Order 1968.”
The troubles began in June ending when Ajit Pawar sent a notice to the Election Commission trying to seek recognition as the ‘real’ party to the faction of the party led by him under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
The EC had earlier this year ruled in favor of the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the conflict between him and the group led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The hearing on 6th October between the two rival groups will either happen in person or through representation. With no election meandering ahead, there is no need for any of the rival factions to choose different party names and symbols. Sources say that an interim order to freeze the party symbols and name amidst the dispute was not necessitated. In Maharashtra and Nagaland, where the NCP is prominent it is assumed that in less than a year for the Lok Sabha election no bypoll will be required even if there is scope.
The reports say that in their written agreement with the exchange of documentary evidence between the rivals through the Election Commission, the Sharad Pawar faction asked for more time in the notice submitted regarding the party name and symbols. On the other hand, the Ajit Pawar faction wanted the judgment passed at the earliest. The EC has reiterated that both sides present their sides.