19 Feb 2024 12:23 PM GMT
The Supreme Court on Monday (February 19) issued notice on a plea filed by Sharad Pawar challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to recognize Ajit Pawar's faction as the authentic Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In a temporary relief to the former, the court also directed that the commission's February 7 order granting name of 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar' for the faction led by the veteran politician will continue till further orders. Additionally, it has allowed him to approach the ECI for allocation of a party symbol, directing the poll panel to allot it within one week of the application.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ajit Pawar faction on caveat, protested, arguing, "He's starting from the Supreme Court on the strength of an order passed in another case."
Despite Rohatgi's objections to the continuation of the ECI's interim arrangement, the bench acceded to the request made on behalf of Sharad Pawar, pronouncing -
When Rohatgi continued objecting, Justice Viswanathan said, "At some stage, let the voter have some say. It will cause chaos. I don't want to draw analogy but If you're following the politics across the border, the whole thing happened because someone wanted the bat symbol and it was not given."
Sharad Pawar v. Ajit Anantrao Pawar & Anr. | Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 4248 of 2024