Supreme Court

SC Grants Permission to ‘NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar’ Faction for Election Symbol

On Tuesday, March 19, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Sharad Pawar faction, permitting them to use the party name ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ and the symbol ‘man blowing turha’ for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The apex court directed the Election Commission to officially recognize NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar and its chosen symbol for these polls, while also instructing the commission not to allocate the symbol to any other political entity.

Additionally, the court mandated that the Ajit Pawar faction issue a public notice stating that the use of NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol is under judicial review and is subject to adjudication. This declaration must be included in all poll-related advertisements by the Ajit Pawar group.

Earlier, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar had ruled in favor of the Ajit Pawar faction, stating that they were the legitimate NCP. He emphasized that the anti-defection law should not be employed to suppress internal dissent within political parties.

Narwekar’s decision stemmed from the Ajit Pawar group’s significant legislative majority of 41 out of 53 party MLAs when they opted to join the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in July 2023.

The Election Commission had previously recognized the Ajit Pawar faction as the official NCP and had allotted the party’s ‘clock’ symbol to the group on February 7.

Founded in 1999 by Pawar senior along with former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar after their expulsion from the Congress, the NCP has seen internal disputes culminating in this legal battle over party symbols and legitimacy.

Ashish Sinha

-Ashish Kumar Sinha -Editor Legally Speaking -Ram Nath Goenka awardee - 14 Years of Experience in Media - Covering Courts Since 2008

Recent Posts

Rajasthan HC Quashes SC/ST Case Against Actress Shilpa Shetty

The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday quashed a complaint filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of…

19 hours ago

Allahabad HC Turns Down Appeal Seeking Appointment Of Receiver For Jaigurudev Sanstha

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday has dismissed an appeal filed by the Jaigurudev Dharma…

19 hours ago

Shivaji Statue Collapse Case: Bombay HC Grants Bail To Consultant Chetan Patil

The Bombay High Court granted bail to consultant Chetan Patil on Thursday in connection with…

20 hours ago

Excise Policy Case: Delhi HC Refuses To Stay Trial Against Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to stay the trial proceedings against former Delhi…

20 hours ago

AP Assembly Passes Resolution To Set Up HC Bench In Kurnool

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution to establish a permanent High Court…

21 hours ago

Lesbian Couple Desiring Child Gets Bail In Kidnapping Of Minor Girl

The Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to a lesbian couple arrested for allegedly…

21 hours ago