By Mohammed Yousif 
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has granted interim permission to the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) to accept donations from individuals and companies pending the resolution of an ongoing case in the Supreme Court.
In an order dated July 8, the ECI responded to letters from the NCP (SP), stating, “After having considered your letters dated 27.03.2024 and 04.04.2024, the ECI hereby authorizes, on an interim basis, ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ to accept any amount of contribution voluntarily offered to it by any person or company other than a Government company.”
Supriya Sule, leader of NCP (SP) and Lok Sabha MP, welcomed the decision, noting that the party had previously faced restrictions on accepting donations via cheques and lacked tax benefits. “Now our request has been accepted,” she remarked.
Sule also mentioned that the party had raised concerns with the ECI regarding confusion over its poll symbol during the Lok Sabha elections. The ECI has assured the party that it will address this issue.
During the elections, the ECI had assigned the symbol “man blowing turha” to NCP (SP). However, confusion over similar symbols reportedly led to the loss of votes in certain constituencies, including the Satara seat.
As NCP (SP) prepares to move forward with its interim authorization to accept donations, the party remains focused on resolving electoral symbol issues and advancing its political objectives.