The newly-formed NCP had asked the Commission to allot it the `charkha' or spinning wheel as its poll symbol. This was objected to by the Congress party which argued that in the public mind the `charkha' is associated with it.

Disputing this claim, the NCP counters that the Congress cannot object to the NCP being allotted `charkha' since it is registered symbol of the Indian Congress (Socialist) which has merged with the Nationalist Congress.Following the merger of the NCP and the Congress (S), the NCP says the Congress has no locus standi to raise objections.

A twist to the issue has been added by the rumpof the Indian Congress (Socialist) which has not joined the NCP. Congress (S) joint secretary Sanjay Kumar Sharma said though his party's President Sharat Chandra Sinha has joined the NCP along with his supporters, the Indian Congress (S) still retains its separate identity. Another senior leader of the Indian Congress (S) Ram Nath Saha has been appointed provisional president and the party would continue to claim `charkha' as its symbol.

The EC has also postponed a decision on the plea by the Andhra Pradesh state government that ongoing welfare schemes should be exempted from the model code of conduct. Nirvachan Sadan sources said a decision on the plea would be taken shortly.