NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court in its order on Tuesday refused to stay the ECI order of granting Clock symbol to Ajit Pawar group, and allowed the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar Group) to use its 'man blowing a turha' symbol for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
Sharad Pawar-led faction had on February 12, had knocked the doors of the Top Court challenging the decision of the ECI (Election Commission of India) to recognize Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP.
The Top court also today asked the ECI to reserve the 'man blowing a turha' symbol for the Sharad Pawar faction and said it should not allot the symbol to any other party or candidate, till the court again hears the plea of Sharad Pawar-led group.
The apex court further made it clear and directed the Ajit Pawar faction to issue a public notice in English, Hindi, and Marathi media mentioning in all of its campaign advertisements that the 'clock' symbol allotted to it is subject to the adjudication of the plea filed by Sharad Pawar-led faction pending before the SC.
It is necessary to mention that in July 2023, the NCP split into two groups after Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit, along with a number of MLAs joined the ruling alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra, forcing Sharad Pawar-led group to knock the doors of the apex court for relief.
Earlier, on the last date of hearing on March 14, the SC warned the Ajit Pawar faction not to use Sharad Pawar name and picture in posters.
The top court also orally had earlier suggested that Ajit Pawar group to use a symbol other than the 'clock' symbol for elections so that there won't be any confusion.
Sharad Pawar led faction, in its petition filed before the Top court, challenged the handing over of clock symbol to Ajit Pawar faction, along with other prayers.
The ECI in its order on February 06 ruled Ajit faction is the real NCP and gave clock symbol to it. The ECI ruled in favour of the faction led by Ajit Pawar in connection with dispute in the NCP.
The ECI order was a major blow to Sharad Pawar and its faction. It is to be noted that the senior NCP leader is one the most influential, effective and charismatic leaders of India.
The ECI applied the test of majority in the legislative wing to determine which of the two factions can claim to be the real NCP.
The poll body noted that the total number of NCP MLAs in Maharashtra State assembly stood at 81. Out of this, Ajit Pawar submitted affidavits of 57 MLAs in his support while Sharad Pawar had only 28 affidavits.
In view of this, the commission concluded that the group led by Ajit Pawar enjoyed majority support of the legislators and can lay claim to being NCP.
The NCP was formed on June 1999, by Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma (now died), and Tariq Anwar after they were expelled from the Indian National Congress (INC) on May 1999, for disputing the right of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to lead the party.
