SC notice to Ajit Pawar group on Sharad Pawar's plea on allotment of NCP name and symbol

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on a plea by Sharad Pawar, the founder of Nationalist Congress Party, questioning validity of the Election Commission's decision to hold the group led by the former as the real political party. 

The apex court, however, allowed the group led by Sharad Pawar to use the name of 'Nationalist Congress Party - Sharad Chandra Pawar' till further orders.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Vishwanathan decided to examine senior Pawar's plea after three weeks.

The court also ordered that the interim order by the EC allowing the petitioner the right to use 'Nationalist Congress Party - Sharad Chandra Pawar' would continue till further orders.

The court also granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the EC for allocation of symbol, saying it shall be allotted within one week of filing the application.

The bench issued notice to the Ajit Pawar group on the plea seeking its response within two weeks.

The court posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Sharad Pawar contended the court should allow the use of the party name and the symbol.

"It is astonishing, my symbol was clock and party name NCP, but the EC gave me interim symbol for the purpose of Rajya Sabha elections. It is an absurd situation," he said.

He said it was strange that Sharad Pawar group has to obey whip by Ajit Pawar faction.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ajit Pawar group opposed the plea for continuance of the interim arrangement.

The court, however, decided to consider the matter and fixed it for hearing after three weeks.

In the petition, Sharad Pawar challenged the poll panel's decision of February 6, recognising the group by Ajit Pawar as the NCP and awarding it party symbol of 'Clock'.