EC greenlights 'Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar' as new party name

• Election Commission approves 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' as the official name for Sharad Pawar's faction
• The decision results from a longstanding feud between Sharad Pawar and nephew Ajit, leading to the need for a distinct party name
• Special arrangement made to accommodate the ECI's verdict close to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially designated 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' as the new name for the faction led by veteran politician Sharad Pawar. This decision follows a months-long feud between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit, who aligned with the BJP and Shiv Sena in 2023.

The ECI's ruling, just ahead of the scheduled Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra, is a special arrangement allowing the faction to choose a distinct name for this election cycle.

“The special circumstances, which has come into being, triggers a peculiarity as to whom the MLAs of the faction led by Respondent (Sharad Pawar) would show their votes in terms of provision of 39AA of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra,” the ECI order said.