The Election Commission of India on Wednesday alloted Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar – as new name to faction led by the founder of the NCP Sharad Pawar. 

The development comes a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) granted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) name and symbol to the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Under the ruling, the Sharad Pawar faction was offered a one-time opportunity to select a new name for their political formation, newswire ANI reported. The concession is to be utilised by 3 pm on February 7, 2024. The decision was taken after more than 10 hearings spread over more than six months.

The Election Commission said that the decision followed the laid-out tests of maintainability of the petition, which included tests of aims and objectives of the party constitution, test of party constitution and tests of a majority both organizational and legislative.

The hearings, which commenced on July 1 last year between factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar saw strong legal teams from both sides including Mukul Rohatgi, Neeraj Kishan Kaul and Maninder Singh for the petitioner and Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Devdatt Kamat from the respondent.

The test of majority in the legislative wing found favour in this circumstance of the case, where both groups have been found to be working outside the party constitution and the organizational elections, the poll panel said.

Workers of the Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar Wednesday said that it constitutes a breach of the Constitution to transfer a party (real NCP) established by (Sharad) Pawar saheb to another faction.

“A black day, violation of the Constitution”: Sharad Pawar’s workers rally behind the NCP founder

Meanwhile, calling it a black day the workers said that while Sharad Pawar entrusted significant roles to Ajit Pawar, there was an alleged plot to undermine him with the assistance of the BJP.

The Election Commission dealt a blow to Sharad Pawar by officially acknowledging the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the real NCP, granting it both the party name and symbol.

Workers of Sharad Pawar group Wednesday demonstrated their dissent by donning black ribbons in Pune, Mumbai and some other places.

The loyalists of the elder Pawar stood in solidarity with him, affirming that, to them, Sharad Pawar embodies the essence of the party and its symbol. They also emphasized that the true ownership of the NCP is widely recognized among the populace in the state.

“This is not the first time that Sharad Pawar saheb has faced this kind of a situation, but the saddening part is that someone from the family split the party. I am sure the people of Maharashtra will give a befitting reply,” said a woman supporter in Pimpri Chinchwad, an industrial and automotive hub near Pune city, according to newswire PTI. She condemned the decision of the ECI by wearing black ribbons and black clothes.

Another supporter said yesterday was a black day.

“It is a violation of the Constitution to give a party, founded by Pawar saheb, to the other faction. Pawar saheb gave big positions to Ajit Pawar, but he hatched a conspiracy to finish him off with the help of BJP,” a party worker told PTI. (With inputs from agencies)

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