New Delhi:

The Election Commission on Friday met the warring factions of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar over their claims to the party name and poll symbol. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar was present at the personal hearing of the rival factions called by the Election Commission, which decided to continue the proceedings on October 9.

Ajit Pawar, who had moved the Election Commission staking claim to the party name and poll symbol, submitted that he had the support of 42 of the 53 MLAs in Maharashtra, six of the nine MLCs, all seven MLAs in Nagaland, and one member each in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

At the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared before the poll panel on behalf of Sharad Pawar. Senior advocates N K Kaul and Maninder Singh were present on behalf of Ajit Pawar.

The faction led by Ajit Pawar had rebelled against NCP leader Sharad Pawar and moved the poll panel staking claim to the party name and symbol.

“Under the circumstances, the petitioner submits that he enjoys overwhelming support in the Organisational Wing as well as Legislative Wing of the NCP and therefore the present petition may be allowed by the Hon’ble Commission by recognising the faction led by the petitioner to be the real Political Party,” Ajit Pawar said in his submission to the Election Commission.

The Ajit Pawar faction submitted its arguments in support of its claim before the poll panel on Friday.

The arguments of the Ajit Pawar faction are expected to continue on Monday.

Sharad Pawar’s lawyer Mr Singhvi told reporters later that the claims made by Ajit Pawar were imaginary.

Two days before rebelling against uncle Sharad Pawar to join the Maharashtra government in early July, Ajit Pawar had approached the poll body on June 30 staking claim to the party name as well as symbol and subsequently also declared himself as the party president with the support of 40 lawmakers.

Recently, the Sharad Pawar-led faction had told the EC that there was no dispute in the party, except that a few mischievous individuals have defected from the organisation for their personal ambitions, a reference to the rebel group headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. 

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New Delhi:

The appointment of Ajit Pawar as the Nationalist Congress Party’s National President is “illegal”, the Sharad Pawar-led faction fumed Friday in its reply to the Election Commission of India. The Pawar side of the NCP was responding to a plea by Ajit Pawar’s half staking claim to the NCP’s symbol. The plea was filed “to pre-emptively avoid inevitable disqualification (of the rebel leaders)”, the response said.

The Pawar camp has told the top poll body the Constitution of the party does not allow legislators to appoint a party boss, and that Ajit Pawar had “unilaterally sought to appoint himself as the boss on basis of signatures of some legislators”; the contentious resolution had Ajit Pawar as ‘Signatory No 1’.

The Sharad Pawar faction has also stressed that “there is no split in the NCP” – which was divided earlier this year after the nephew rebelled against the uncle and joined hands with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is itself propped up by a rebel faction of the Shiv Sena.

READ | Sharad Pawar Makes Massive Claim, Says “No Split” In NCP. Explains Why

The Pawar faction further argued that Ajit Pawar held a National Convention – without issuing notice or appointing a Chief Returning Officer – where his “appointment” was ratified.

Ajit Pawar, 63, was restored as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister – a post he held in the former government too – after he walked out of the NCP, taking over 40 lawmakers with him.

Pawar senior’s response also said disqualification petitions had been moved against “nine delinquent MLAs (on July 2) and 20 MLAs (on September 5) on grounds of anti-party activities”.

READ | As NCP Factions Fight, Sharad Pawar Says “No Split, Just Democracy”

“It is submitted… affidavits of MLAs against whom disqualification petitions are pending cannot be taken into account for purpose of deciding the majority. Therefore, affidavits of 29 MLAs… cannot be taken into account for purpose of ascertaining majority of petitioner,” the Sharad Pawar camp said.

“Of the remaining 24 MLAs, it is submitted the respondent continues to enjoy support of 12…”

NCP boss Sharad Pawar’s faction underlined its stance on this issue in August too; in which Mr Pawar, 82, said “a few” had left to “take a different political stance (but) this does not constitute a split”.

“It’s not like a majority of the people from the party are going out. Some people have taken a different stand, democracy allows them to do so. It’s not a split in the party,” he had said.

Also in August, the Sharad Pawar camp told the Election Commission that Ajit Pawar’s demand for the NCP symbol is “premature”, “malafide” and should be rejected.

READ | Ajit Pawar’s NCP Symbol Claim “Malafide”: Sharad Pawar Camp To Poll Body

“Ajit Pawar has not been able to demonstrate, even prima facie, there exists a dispute (within the) NCP… Election Commission has also not made any prima facie determination there is any dispute between NCP, led by National President Sharad Pawar, and former members (led by Ajit Pawar).”