NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar: New name for Sharad Pawar faction after EC setback

Mumbai: The political outfit led by Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule will henceforth be known as the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar.

However, the name NCP (SP) will be valid for one-time use for the purpose of the forthcoming elections to six seats of Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said.

The ECI on Wednesday allotted the name NCP (SP) to the Pawar faction a day after the it assigned the original party name and the iconic clock symbol to his nephew and NCP President Ajit Pawar, who became the Deputy Chief Minister after defecting to the BJP-led NDA camp.

Subsequently, the Sharad Pawar camp sent in three preferences—Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadrao Pawar and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar—to the ECI for approval.

In a communication signed by EC Under Secretary Jusmeet Kaur, the decision was conveyed to Pawar, a copy of which was sent to the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra and Ajit Pawar.

The faction had also sought 'banyan tree' as the election symbol for itself.

(With PTI inputs)