Supreme Court ruling on party name and symbol a "win for voters," says Sharad Pawar

Thane: In response to the Supreme Court's decision allowing his faction to use the name 'NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar' until further notice, Sharad Pawar hailed it as a victory for voters.

The court directed that the Election Commission's February 6 order, allotting the name 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' for the Sharad Pawar faction, will stand until further directives.

Expressing his views, Sharad Pawar stated, "It is a win for the voters as the court observed that the voters of the country should not be undermined and questioned what about the fact that candidates have fought on the ticket of the original party."

The Supreme Court, on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, granted interim relief against the Election Commission's order, recognising them as 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar.' Pawar appreciated the court's decision and expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasising the importance of democracy and their commitment to Dr. B R Ambedkar's Constitution.

The bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan directed the Election Commission to consider Sharad Pawar's faction's application for a symbol within seven days. The court issued a notice to the Ajit Pawar-led faction, seeking a response to Sharad Pawar's plea against the February 6 order that recognized the Maharashtra deputy chief minister-led group as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The bench, critical of the Election Commission's order, highlighted that both factions violated the party constitution, yet neither was disqualified, raising concerns about the impact on voters who supported them.