Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the Election Commission`s (EC) decision to allot the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) name and symbol to Ajit Pawar-led group was "surprising" as the poll body has "snatched" the party from the hands of those who founded it and gave it to others, reported the PTI.

Sharad Pawar said that the programme and ideology are important for the people while a symbol is useful for a limited period.