The Supreme Court on Monday issued a directive that the Election Commission’s decision from February 7, which approved the name “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar” for the faction led by Sharad Pawar, will remain in effect until further notice or orders are issued.

Supreme Court issues notice on a plea filed by veteran leader Sharad Pawar of NCP against the order of Election Commission of India (ECI) officially recognising Ajit Pawar faction as the ‘real’ Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

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Supreme Court says February 7 order of ECI granting… pic.twitter.com/vwSCg6f1LF

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A panel comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan has requested a reply from the faction led by Ajit Pawar regarding a petition filed by Sharad Pawar against the Election Commission’s decision on February 7. This decision acknowledged the group led by the Maharashtra deputy chief minister as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The court granted Sharad Pawar the freedom to approach the Election Commission to request the allocation of the party symbol. Additionally, it instructed the Election Commission to assign the symbol within one week of receiving the application.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, stated that the decision issued by the Election Commission on February 7 was a temporary arrangement made specifically for the Rajya Sabha elections until February 27th.

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Sharad Pawar had requested an urgent hearing of his petition in the Supreme Court due to the dual setbacks experienced by his faction, which raised concerns about potential repercussions for his MLAs for possible violations of whip orders.

In light of the February 15 ruling by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who declared that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar was the authentic NCP and emphasized that the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution should not be utilized to suppress internal dissent, Sharad Pawar had requested an urgent hearing.

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