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Journalism of Courage
By: Manoj More
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has asserted that it is in no danger of losing its ‘national party’ status in the face of the Election Commission’s showcause notice on why the status should not be withdrawn after its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.’
The NCP has said it is a recognised national party with presence in several states and therefore deserved the status as a natural corollary.
“We have been a registered national party since 1999 and have presence in several states. There is no reason why we cannot keep the national party status,” state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare told The Indian Express Monday.
State NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said: “The party has been recognised as a national party and would remain so.” Malik said the party had replied to the EC’s showcause notice received two weeks ago. “We have replied to the EC’s notice by the set deadline last week and would await a hearing to present our side,” he said.
Tatkare said the EC’s notice could be due to the fewer seats won by the party in the recent LS polls. “We are examining all the aspects, including the voting in different states… If need be, we will seek personal hearing from the EC and explain our position. We are confident of defending our status as a national party,” he said.
According to the EC’s criteria for a party to be called a ‘national party’, it needs to contest election from four states and win four seats in the LS polls or win at least two per cent of the total seats in the LS elections from not less than three states or it should be a party recognised as a state party in at least four states.
In the recently held LS polls, the NCP won from six constituencies — four in Maharashtra, one in Lakshadweep and one in Bihar. “We have not won four, but six seats in the LS elections. In at least eight states, we have our presence,” said a top NCP leader.
NCP leaders, however, said even if the party was de-recognised as a national party, it was not overtly worried as it did not have much presence in other states, except Maharashtra. “If the EC goes ahead with its decision to de-recognise NCP as national party, we will not be able to use our party symbol — clock — which our candidates use while contesting election anywhere in the country. The symbol would then be used only in Maharashtra where the party is recognised as a state party,” said a senior NCP leader.
Pawar meets Modi
New Delhi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. “They discussed the delayed monsoon climate and its effects on economy. It was a courtesy call,” said a communiques issued by the PMO after their meeting. Pawar as Agriculture Minister during the UPA government had dealt with drought conditions during 2009 and also oversaw drought mitigation efforts in 2012 in some states. Earlier, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had called on Pawar early in June. The meeting comes ahead of Assembly elections in Maharashtra where Pawar has supported Congress-NCP government’s move to grant quota for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutes. BJP has been opposed to such move. ENS
