Pawar faction now becomes NCP- Sharadchandra Pawar; Here's how

A day after the Election Commission decided to favor the faction led by Ajit Pawar by granting it the name and symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Sharad Pawar faction has been designated with a new name, 'Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar'.

The Election Commission announced on Tuesday, provided the Sharad Pawar faction with an opportunity to designate a name for its new political entity and furnish three references to the Commission. Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, led the petitioner faction in this dispute. Notably, Sharad Pawar, the founder of the NCP, is his uncle.

The Election Commission stipulated that this concession must be utilized by 3 PM on February 7, 2024. This decision comes after a series of over 10 hearings spanning more than six months.

What has ECI said?

The Election Commission explained that its decision adhered to established tests of petition maintainability, including scrutiny of the party constitution's aims and objectives, examination of the party constitution itself, and assessment of both organizational and legislative majorities.

The Election Commission of India order said, “The special circumstances, which has come into being, triggers a peculiarity as to whom the MLAs of the faction led by Respondent (Sharad Pawar) would show their votes in terms of provision of 39AA of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra.”

In this particular case, the test of legislative majority was deemed significant, as both factions were found to be operating outside the party constitution and organizational election processes. 

Rajya Sabha elections compel ECI for rapid hearing

Due to the proximity of the ECI verdict to the Rajya Sabha elections, a special arrangement was necessary since the rules mandate lawmakers to reveal their ballot paper to the party's authorized agent before casting their vote. The ECI acknowledged this peculiarity and granted a one-time option for the faction led by Sharad Pawar to claim a new name for its political formation and provide three preferences for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra.