While, the Congress is preparing to make a pitched defence before the Election Commission to deny the logo to NCP which requested the EC to entitle it to use the symbol.

The NCP had applied for adoption of the Charkha which has been the party symbol of the Congress (Socialist) since 1978, as its logo for the coming elections on the grounds that the later had merged with the NCP last month. The Congress contends that NCP wants to encash on its association with former in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Now, the ball is in Election Commission's court which on Saturday reserved its order on the NCP's request for the charkha (spinning wheel) as its poll symbol. The commission reserved the orderafter a hearing lasting two days, in the course of which it heard counsels on behalf of the NCP and the Congress. The Congress had contended that in the public mind, the `Charkha' was associated with it and the NCP should thus not be given this symbol.

However, the NCP, has disputed the Congress claim saying the Congress had no locus standi to object to the NCP request as the `charkha' was the registered symbol of the Indian Congress (socialist), which had now merged with the Nationalist Congress Party. Following the merger, the NCP should be allowed to use this symbol, it says.

Underlining the basis for their basis, the NCP leaders maintain that the Congress (S) had been a recognised party and the symbol had been used in subsequent elections since 1978.

Meanwhile, a section within the Indian Congress (Socialist) has also requested the Election Commission not to grant the ``charkha'' to Sharad Pawar's party as its symbol.