Voters are smart, don’t decide on poll symbol: Sharad Pawar

Ahead of an Election Commission hearing to decide the ‘real’ NCP, the Sharad Pawar-led group apparently tried to stage a show of strength in the national capital on Thursday with the veteran leader expressing confidence in gaining people’s support irrespective of its poll symbol ‘clock’.

The 82-year-old Pawar chaired the NCP’s extended working committee meeting, which expressed confidence in his leadership and strongly condemned the “actions of a few elected representatives, who defected from the party”. The meeting came on the eve of the hearing at the Election Commission on the claims to the party name and poll symbol made by rival factions led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar.

“The entire party reaffirms its unwavering faith in the leadership of Shri Sharad Pawar and is preparing for future elections in the country under his guidance and vision,” the resolution adopted at the meeting said.
Ajit Pawar claimed the support of more than two-thirds of the NCP legislators in Maharashtra and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in June and later staked claim to the NCP name and election symbol, asserting to be the original party.