NCP symbol battle: EC hears Sharad, Ajit Pawar factions; next hearing on Oct 9 – what we know so far

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battle to lay claim over the party's name and its over two decades old clock symbol. Here's what we know so far: - Ajit Pawar, who had moved the Election Commission staking claim to the party name and poll symbol, submitted that he had the support of 42 of the 53 MLAs in Maharashtra, six of the nine MLCs, all seven MLAs in Nagaland and one member each in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. - At the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared before the poll panel on behalf of Sharad Pawar.

Senior advocates N K Kaul and Maninder Singh were present on behalf of Ajit Pawar. - "Under the circumstances, the petitioner submits that he enjoys overwhelming support in the Organisational Wing as well as Legislative Wing of the NCP and therefore the present petition may be allowed by the Hon'ble Commission by recognising the faction led by the petitioner to be the real political party," Ajit Pawar said in his submission to the Election Commission. - In the hearing held today, the Ajit faction submitted its arguments in support of its claim.

Their arguments are expected to continue on October 9. - Singhvi, who represented the Sharad faction, told reporters later that the claims made by Ajit Pawar were imaginary. “We appeared (before EC) today, the hearing went for over two hours.