Shillong, July 5: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is on the verge of taking its fight for the party name and symbol to the Election Commission. Following a crucial meeting on Wednesday, the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is contemplating approaching the Election Commission (EC). Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has already lodged a caveat with the poll body.
Sources have revealed that the Ajit Pawar faction is preparing to assert its claim over the party name and symbol. However, the Sharad Pawar faction has filed a caveat, urging the Election Commission to consider their perspective before making any decision regarding the party name and symbol.
The NCP witnessed a vertical split when Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs rebelled against the party’s founder, Sharad Pawar, and joined the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde on July 2. Subsequently, a fierce power struggle erupted within the NCP, with rival factions engaging in a spree of sackings and seeking disqualification of lawmakers aligned with the opposing camps.
In a bid to establish their majority support within the party, both factions are convening crucial meetings today. The NCP currently holds 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, with 24 MLAs backing Ajit Pawar and 14 MLAs supporting Sharad Pawar.