In the vibrant city of New Delhi, the esteemed Election Commission of India has allocated the symbol of the ‘Man blowing Turha’ to the political entity known as the Nationalist Congress Party–led by the notable Sharadchandra Pawar. The Commission, in its definitive decree dated February 6, 2024, under Dispute Case No. 2 of 2023, has officially designated the name “Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar” to the faction overseen by Sharad Pawar (the respondent), pending any subsequent directives from the Supreme Court in this matter.
In response to the entreaty received, the directive from the Election Commission articulates, “Man Blowing Turha” is to be affiliated with the group/party across all parliamentary constituencies in the State of Maharashtra. Following this proclamation, the Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar conveyed via X that the innovative symbol, resonating with the ethos of Maharashtra’s revered figures, is poised to unsettle the power center of the central government.
Delving into Maharashtra’s historical tapestry, the valor of Chhatrapati Shiv Rai, symbolized by the Trumpet that reverberated in the corridors of Delhi’s throne, stands as a source of pride for the ‘Nationalist Congress Party – Sharad Chandra Pawar’ in contemporary times. Aligned with the forward-thinking ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the embodiment of Maharashtra, luminaries such as Phule, Shahu, Ambedkar, and the revered ‘Tutari,’ are prepared to sound the trumpet once more, in unison with Sharad Chandra Pawar saheb, aiming to shake the foundations of Delhi’s dominion!
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court mandated the continuance of the interim order by the Election Commission of India (ECI), permitting the seasoned leader Sharad Pawar to utilize ‘Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Chandra Pawar’ until any subsequent rulings. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Vishwanathan also granted Sharad Pawar the liberty to petition the ECI for the allocation of a symbol, ensuring it would be assigned within a week of the application’s submission.
Simultaneously, the bench issued a notice to the Ajit Pawar faction and the ECI in response to Sharad Pawar’s plea against the poll panel’s decision to officially recognize the Ajit Pawar faction as the authentic Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The bench has solicited responses from the concerned parties within a fortnight, scheduling the next hearing for three weeks hence.
On the 6th of February, the electoral body, employing the criterion of majority in the legislative wing, adjudicated that Ajit Pawar’s faction held the mantle of the true NCP and accorded permission for the utilization of the ‘clock’ symbol. In its edict, the Election Commission noted the total count of NCP MLAs in the Maharashtra State Assembly at 81, with Ajit Pawar presenting affidavits from 57 supporting MLAs, while Sharad Pawar could muster only 28 affidavits.