Mumbai: Supriya Sule, the daughter of Sharad Pawar and Member of Parliament, on Tuesday, said that the order by the Election Commission is “not a new order” as a similar kind of verdict was made for Shiv Sena. Her comments come in response to the Election Commission ruling, which declared Ajit Pawar’s faction as the real NCP. Speaking to reporters, Sule stated, “I think what happened with Shiv Sena is what is happening with us today. So, this is not a new order. Just the names have been changed but the content is the same”.
Sule told reporters that despite the EC’s decision in favour of Ajit Pawar’s group, the dedication and support of the party workers remain firmly aligned with Sharad Pawar. The ruling, which also granted the ‘Wall Clock’ symbol to Ajit Pawar’s faction, has prompted discussions about the internal dynamics and future trajectory of the NCP.
Sule further expressed her concerns about the prevailing circumstances, remarking, “Our documents were fine. The founder member and founder leader of this party is only Sharad Pawar. But now the atmosphere is something else right now. There is an ‘adrishya shakti’ in the country which is doing all this. We will fight. We will definitely go to the Supreme Court”.
Another Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad said they will move the Supreme Court. He said the former union minister and Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar is a phoenix and he will rise from the ashes.
“This was going to happen. We already knew this. Today he (Ajit Pawar) has choked Sharad Pawar politically. Only Ajit Pawar is behind this. The only one who should be embarrassed in this is the Election Commission,” Awhad told reporters.
“Sharad Pawar is a phoenix. He will rise again from the ashes. We still have the power because we have Sharad Pawar. We will go to the Supreme Court,” he added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar welcomed the decision of the Election Commission that recognised the faction led by him as the “real NCP” in the dispute within the Nationalist Congress Party.
“The Election Commission has ruled in our favour after listening to the arguments of our lawyers. We welcome this humbly,” Ajit Pawar said.
Ajit Pawar is Deputy Chief Minister in the Shinde government in Maharashtra which also includes the BJP.
In a big setback to the faction led by Sharad Pawar, the Election Commission on Tuesday gave the Nationalist Congress Party name and symbol to the faction led by Ajit Pawar. The significant decision has a bearing on the forthcoming polls.
The Commission has provided the Sharad Pawar faction with an option to claim a name to its new political formation and provide three preferences to the Commission. 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 months. The poll panel said that the decision followed the laid-out 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 legislative.