March 19, 2024 7:45 PM.
The Supreme Court issued an interim order today regarding the ongoing dispute between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions within the Nationalist Congress Party, NCP.
In its order, the apex court allowed the Sharad Pawar faction to use party name ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ for upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. It allowed the faction to use the party symbol ‘man blowing turha’ for these polls.
The top court has directed the Election Commission to recognise NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar and symbol for Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. It also asked the poll body not to allot the symbol to any other political party.
The apex court also asked the Ajit Pawar faction to issue a public notice saying NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol is sub-judice and its use is subject to adjudication.
This directive comes in response to a petition filed by Sharad Pawar challenging the ECI’s decision to grant the official “clock” symbol of the NCP to Ajit Pawar’s group.