Situation "Worse" Than Uddhav Thackeray Faction, Says Sharad Pawar As He Seeks Urgent Hearing In Supreme Court Against EC Ruling

Sharad Pawar approached the Supreme Court on Friday (16 October) seeking an urgent hearing in his case against the Election Commission's decision to give the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) name and symbol to his nephew Ajit Pawar's faction.

Representing senior Pawar, advocate Abhishek Manu Singh said as per The Hindu, "A strange situation is upon us. Sharad Pawar will be subject to the whip of Ajit Pawar when the Assembly starts next week."

He further pointed out that their situation is "worse" than that of the Uddhav Thackeray faction after the Eknath Shinde faction was declared as the 'real Shiv Sena', without elaborating it further.

While the Sharad Pawar faction got a new name, a new symbol has not been allotted to them yet, Singhvi highlighted, prompting the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud to give an assurance of early listing of the plea.

Soon after the Election Commission's ruling, Sharad Pawar camp initiated legal action by approaching the Supreme Court against it. In response to this, the Ajit Pawar faction took preemptive action by lodging a caveat in the Supreme Court.

The caveat, represented by advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh, aims to prevent any unilateral decisions against the Ajit Pawar faction should the opposing group approach the apex court and seeks a prior hearing.

On 6 February, the Election Commission declared that the Ajit Pawar-led faction is the 'real' NCP. A similar decision was taken by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar yesterday based on the factor of legislative majority.

Narwekar dismissed the disqualification plea filed by the Sharad Pawar faction against Ajit Pawar faction MLAs ruling that the act of these MLAs to join the ruling coalition was not defection.