'Stood behind you like rock': Jitendra Awhad defends Sharad Pawar against rebel faction's allegations

"It is not a question of technicalities and legalities, the question is about sensitivity. Sharad Pawar is the man who raised you and stood behind you like a rock. You used words that he was running the party like a personal fiefdom; these words are contradictory to Sharad Pawar's character," Awhad said while speaking to reporters in Nagpur.

"Sharad Pawar has never done anything beyond democratic principles," he added.

He was responding to queries a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) called the rival factions of the NCP for a personal hearing over claims on the party name and symbol.

One faction of the NCP is led by Sharad Pawar and the other by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Ajit Pawar-led faction had rebelled against Sharad Pawar and moved the poll panel staking claim over the party name and symbol.

Ajit Pawar earlier in July approached the Election Commission staking claim to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the party symbol amid a feud between the two factions.

Later, the Election Commission wrote to both factions of the party acknowledging the split and also directed both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar to share documents, submitted to the polling body, with each other.

The Commission in July also issued a show-cause notice to the NCP group led by Sharad Pawar following a petition filed by the Ajit Pawar faction. The petition claimed that Ajit Pawar should be declared NCP president and should be allotted the party's symbol as per the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

Ajit Pawar had filed the petition before the ECI on June 30, and while he was sworn in as deputy chief minister on July 2, his notice reached the ECI office on July 5.

Ajit Pawar had submitted the petition along with affidavits of MPs, MLAs and MLCs to support his claim. (ANI)