No Relief to Sharad Pawar Camp; SC Upholds EC Verdict In NCP vs NCP – News18

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice recognising Ajit Pawar’s faction as the ‘real’ Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and said that Sharad Pawar’s bloc should use the election symbol allotted to them by the Election Commission.

Sharad Pawar challenged an Election Commission order recognising the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the top court.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and KV Viswanathan heard the petition filed by the veteran Maharashtra leader.

The urgent hearing of the plea comes after the Election Commission of India and Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar recognised the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Narwekar held that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar was the real NCP and that the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution could not be used to stifle internal dissent.

On February 16, the top court had agreed to urgently list the plea after Sharad Pawar stated that a whip may be issued by the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

For the unversed, the Election Commission of India on February 6 announced the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and also allotted the party’s ‘clock’ symbol to the group. The special Maharashtra assembly session is beginning on February 20.