The Election Commission of India (ECI) has given the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) the green light to accept public contributions ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
This decision allows the party to gather voluntary donations from individuals and companies, excluding government entities. This approval comes in response to a request from the party for official recognition to accept these contributions.
In a communication dated July 8, 2024, the ECI stated that the party could accept any voluntary contributions in accordance with Sections 29B and 29C of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
These sections permit political parties to receive donations from any person or company that is not a government company. The approval was granted after an eight-member delegation from the NCP-SP, led by their working president Supriya Sule, met with the Commission at Nirvachan Sadan.
The NCP-SP, led by Sharad Pawar, has been gearing up for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. In June, Pawar urged his party workers to prepare for the elections, expressing confidence that the party would return to power in the state.
Speaking at the party's 25th foundation day celebration in Pune, Pawar emphasised the importance of spreading the party's ideologies and working collectively towards electoral success.
The party, part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, retained significant political ground during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The alliance won 30 out of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats, with the NCP-SP securing 8 seats, the Congress winning 13, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) taking 9 seats.
In contrast, the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), managed to win only 17 seats in the state, with the BJP securing 9 and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) winning 8.
With the ECI's approval to accept public contributions, the NCP-SP is now better positioned to fund its campaign efforts as it prepares for the crucial state elections later this year. This move is expected to boost the party's resources and help it compete more effectively in the upcoming electoral battle.
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