Speaker’s decision on NCP name and symbol injustice, will fight it out in Supreme Court: Sharad Pawar

The Sharad Pawar-led group suffered a setback on Thursday after speaker Narwekar held that the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was the real NCP. He also rejected the disqualification petitions filed by both the rival groups against each other’s MLAs. The ruling came days after the Election Commission held the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the real NCP and allotted it the party name and symbol ‘clock’.

Stating that the battle for name and symbol would continue in the Supreme Court, Pawar said, ”Our fight for name and symbol will continue in the Supreme Court. We will present before the Supreme Court how the Assembly Speaker’s decision is an injustice to us. It is a prime example of how a Speaker has misused his position. We have already approached the Supreme Court and urged the court to decide the ensuing Lok Sabha election.”

Pawar said he had fought 14 elections and at least five times on different party symbols. ”If the party name and symbol do not remain with us, it does not mean that the party is over. One has to remain in constant touch with the people,” he said.

On Ajit Pawar’s allegations that the entire Pawar clan was opposed to him, Pawar said, ”By making such an emotional statement, he is trying to gain public sympathy.”

Praising party leader Jitendra Ahwad, Pawar said, ”What Jitendra Ahwad should speak is his right. He does not need any guidance. He has worked at the state and national levels. He has handled organisational work. He has been a member of the state legislature for a long time. And therefore, he has the right to articulate the party’s stand. He has not taken a different stand than the party’s.” Pawar said so when he was asked about the comment made by Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde that Ahwad was responsible for triggering a quarrel between the two Pawars.