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- NCP symbol controversy; Sharad Pawar vs Ajit Pawar Maharashtra elections
New Delhi5 hours ago
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Just ahead of next month’s Maharashtra assembly elections, the Supreme Court on Thursday breathed a sigh of relief to Ajit Pawar’s faction. Ajit’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) can use the ‘clock’ symbol in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections but must state it is a controversial issue in election banners and posters, court says and controversial issues.
The court was hearing a petition by the Sharad group, which stated that the Ajit group had failed to comply with the court’s order and should therefore stop using the ‘clock’ symbol in the assembly elections. In addition, the Ajit Group should also be directed to apply for a new symbol.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Ujjwal Bhuiyan directed Ajit Pawar’s counsel to file a fresh affidavit. She was also warned that she would personally initiate contempt proceedings if the order was breached. The next hearing in the case will be held on November 6.
On January 22, the electoral commission issued a symbol of a man playing a trumpet to the Sharad faction.
Court says – Don’t create embarrassing situation for yourself by disobeying orders Justice Surya Kant told Ajit Pawar’s lawyer Balvir Singh – Once we give instructions, they must be followed. You file an answer and provide a new affidavit stating that you have not committed any violations in the past and will not commit any violations in the future. We hope that both parties will follow our instructions. Don’t create embarrassing situations for yourself.
3 recent hearings related to NCP election symbols…
- April 4: The Supreme Court directed the Sharad Pawar faction to use only the name NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the symbol of a trumpet player. The court said – in other words, the clock symbol would not be used by petitioner Sharad Pawar or his supporters.
- March 19: The Supreme Court approved NCP Sharad Chandra Pawar’s election symbol ‘trumpet blower’. The Ajit Pawar Group has been asked to take public advertisements in English, Hindi and Marathi newspapers to inform that the issue of its electoral symbol Gary is before the courts. A final decision on this will be made after a court hearing. NCP’s Ajit Pawar must also mention in every template, advertisement, audio video clip that the clock election symbol is being considered by the court.
- March 14: Supreme Court tells Ajit Pawar – Ajit Group should write that they will not use Sharad Pawar’s photo. The court said – now you are an independent party creating your own identity. Responses are also asked to be submitted by March 18. The judge ordered Ajit Pai to provide an unconditional written assurance that Sharad Pawar’s photo will not be used.
Voting in Maharashtra on November 20, counting of votes on November 23 The Election Commission has announced October 15 as the date for the Maharashtra Assembly elections. All 288 seats in the state will go to polls in a phased manner on November 20. The results will be announced on November 23.
What on earth is going on…
February 6: Sharad files a case in the Supreme Court after the Election Commission considers Ajit faction to be the real NCP. Supporters of Ajit Pawar celebrate at the NCP office in Mumbai after the Election Commission’s decision on February 6. On February 6 this year, the Election Commission also recognized Ajit Pawar’s faction as the real NCP. Additionally, the committee has asked Sharad Pawar to provide three names for the new party by 4 pm on February 7.
The Electoral Commission made the decision after 10 hearings over a period of six months. The committee said a majority of the MLAs helped the Ajit party get the name and electoral symbol of the NCP. Party founder Sharad Pawar has filed a petition in the Supreme Court. On February 16, the Supreme Court accepted Sharad Pawar’s application for an emergency hearing. Read full news…
February 15: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker describes Ajit faction as the real NCP. The Supreme Court ordered Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar to take a decision by February 15 on the disqualification of NCP MLAs. On February 15, Navikar admitted that Ajit Pawar was the real NCP. He also rejected calls to disqualify Ajit’s group from being a provincial councilor.
The Speaker has said that the anti-defection laws in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution cannot be used to suppress internal dissent. When the NCP split in July 2023, Ajit Pawar’s faction had an “overwhelming legislative majority” of 41 out of 53 MLAs. Read full news…
Ajit said on July 5 – Now I am the head of NCP
- Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde government in Maharashtra on July 2, 2023, along with 8 NCP MLAs. He claimed to have the support of 40 NCP MLAs. Ajit was appointed deputy chief minister in the coalition government.
- Following this, Ajit announced on July 5, 2023, that Sharad Pawar would be relieved of his post as NCP national president. He declared himself the new president of the country. Ajit said that the decision was taken at the party’s national executive meeting in Mumbai on June 30, 2023.
- Ajit Pawar wrote to the Election Commission on June 30 expressing his opinion on the NCP nomination. At the same time, Sharad leader Jayant Patil asked the committee on July 3 to disqualify 31 provincial councilors, including Ajit and other nine ministers.
- Ajit claimed authority over the party by claiming majority on June 30. By submitting petitions to the committee, Ajit submitted more than 9,000 documents.
During the hearing on July 29, the court has sought answers from Ajit’s team. The Sharad faction has submitted a petition to the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker declaring that the Ajit faction is the real NCP. The case was heard by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pastorwala and Justice Manoj Mishra. The court has sought answers from Ajit Pawar and his team of 40 MLAs on the matter.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Sharad faction, demanded an early hearing arguing that the parliamentary term ends in November. In this regard, the bench said that the Sharad group’s petition will be heard after hearing a similar petition filed by the Uddhav Thackeray group.
The CJI said we will issue notifications and eventually all objections will be heard. Dasti (a method of giving notice) is also freely available to other respondents. In fact, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court against declaring Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his faction as the real Shiv Sena.
NCP is limited to 2 states only The NCP was stripped of its national party status on April 10, 2023, based on the then 2000 election results. It is now recognized as a regional party only in Maharashtra and Nagaland.