Election Commission approves 'Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar' as new name for Sharad Pawar faction

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 PawarThe 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 PawarUnder the ruling the Sharad Pawar faction was offered a onetime 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 monthsThe Election Commission said that the decision followed the laidout 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 legislativeThe 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 respondentThe 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 saidWorkers 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 factionA black day violation of the Constitution Sharad Pawarrsquos workers rally behind the NCP founderMeanwhile 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 BJPThe 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 symbolWorkers of Sharad Pawar group Wednesday demonstrated their dissent by donning black ribbons in Pune Mumbai and some other placesThe 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 stateldquoThis 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 replyrdquo 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 clothesAnother supporter said yesterday was a black dayldquoIt 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 BJPrdquo a party worker told PTI With inputs from agencies