Against The Clock: Why Both The NCP Factions Would Want ECI To Decide On Their Matter Soon

While the Election Commission swiftly resolved the query surrounding the Shiv Sena symbol, allowing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to wrest it from former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, another similar pressing issue in Maharashtra now demands the Commission's intervention: who gets the symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party?

Both the Ajit and Sharad Pawar factions have denied a split in the party and have laid claim to be the genuine NCP.

The ECI has now decided to hear the matter.

When a similar question had come up before the ECI during the Shiv Sena split, the faction with maximum numbers of MLAs, which in this case was with Eknath Shinde, got the symbol and reins of the party. 

In the case of NCP, Ajit Pawar has the maximum number of MLAs and also the support of many MPs. He has also managed instate his loyalists on several party posts across the outfit's hierarchy.

While Sharad Pawar is facing the similar situation that Uddhav Thackeray faced, Pawar has one thing that Uddhav lacked—experience. 

The more-than-symbolic importance of the symbol

Those with insight into politics, particularly Sharad Pawar's tactics, suggest that the senior leader might choose to withdraw from the battle if he foresees a situation where the party symbol could be frozen.

If the party symbol remains frozen for an extended period and elections are called in this time, the Ajit faction might opt to contest under the BJP symbol.

This would be bad news for Pawar Senior as he recognizes that his influence endures only as long as these individuals win on the NCP symbol and the symbol belongs to him.

Moreover, if the symbol of the NCP gets frozen, Ajit Pawar would hold the upper hand in this situation.

Given the legal backing that aided Shinde in his case, and with the full support of the BJP, Ajit and his faction are more likely to secure victory.

In such a scenario, Ajit would be in power, and would easily be able garner support from within the NCP. This also explains how he managed to sway those MLAs who may not entirely align with the BJP's ideology.

Come October, the hearings will commence, with both factions presenting their arguments, documents, and evidence.

The BJP understands its advantageous position in this case. Without the party symbol, Ajit's faction would have to contest under the Lotus and with the symbol, they would be more powerful and rather benefit the BJP directly would add strength to the NDA.

Meanwhile, Ajit has an upper hand in this case, and he will fight with all his might, but Pawar senior too will use his experience to his best. Most importantly, he would know when to stop fighting.