Sharad Pawar faction of NCP gets 'man blowing turha' as party symbol

Pic/X@NCPspeaks

The Election Commission of India on Thursday allotted "man blowing turha (a traditional trumpet)" as the symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar, the outfit's spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, reported news agency PTI.

"Our candidates will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on this symbol," he told PTI.

'Man blowing turha' is the new symbol of Sharad Pawar faction of NCP, the ECI said in its order.

Also called 'tutari' in Marathi, the trumpet is sounded to mark the entry of important persons, ranging from kings earlier to political leaders now.

The Sharad Pawar faction of NCP quoted lines from a popular poem 'Tutari' written by Jnanpith awardee Kusumagraj.

"The Tutari in the form of great valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had once deafened the emperor of Delhi. It is a great honour for our party to get Tutari (Man Blowing Turha) as our symbol for upcoming elections. Our Tutari is now ready to shake Delhi's throne under the leadership of Sharadchandra Pawar," the party said in a post on X.

The Sharad Pawar-founded NCP split in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government.

The ECI later gave the party name and 'clock' symbol to the faction led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

Earlier, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have discussed seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, state NCP chief Jayant Patil said on Thursday, reported PTI.

Earlier, Congress's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala had said seat-sharing talks between the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were in the last stage, and a final decision will be announced after a meeting of the alliance on February 27 and 28.

"Pawar and Rahul Gandhi have spoken on phone," Patil told reporters.

The MVA alliance consists of Congress, NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

Patil also said that he met Pawar on Thursday to discuss the ongoing seat-sharing talks besides organisational matters.

Meanwhile, seat sharing talks between constituents of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra will begin in a few days, Nationalist Congress Party state unit chief Sunil Tatkare said on Thursday.

He said the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP would fight the Lok Sabha polls together and win comprehensively.

He also said there was a demand from the public to give a ticket from Baramati to Sunetra Pawar, the wife of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

The seat is currently held by Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar.

(With inputs from PTI)