Addressing the INDIA bloc's 'Save Democracy' rally at the Ramlila Maidan here, the former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said this is not an ordinary election but one to save the country's democracy and Constitution.
The selection panel is chaired by the prime minister and has as members one Union minister as nominated by the government and the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
Earlier, the top court had directed that the Election Commission's order of February 7 allotting 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction will continue till further orders.
In July 2023, Sharad Pawar-led group filed disqualification petitions against eight MLAs for anti-party activities after Ajit Pawar split the party and joined the coalition government in Maharashtra as Deputy Chief Minister.
Giving its decision on Tuesday, the Election Commission provided the Sharad Pawar faction with a one-time option to claim a name to its new political formation and provide three preferences to the Commission
During the virtual meeting, the INDIA bloc leaders discussed various aspects of the alliance and the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May.
The BRS could make its impact felt in a big way in Tumsur constituency, where it won 20 major panchayats out of the 55 gram panchayats in the constituency that it had candidates.
To a query on whether the meeting with Pawar could result in him joining the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, which also includes Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), Ambedkar replied in the negative.
The senior Pawar, instrumental in forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) under Uddhav Thackeray post the 2019 Maharashtra assembly polls, said the BJP came to power in the state by splitting Shiv Sena.
The Election Commission had on October 6 met the warring factions of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar over claims to the party's name and poll symbol.
The NCP split on July 2 this year after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government comprising the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The extended working committee meeting saw leaders targeting former Union Minister Praful Patel for the split in the NCP but were silent on Ajit Pawar, who became the Deputy Chief Minister in the Maharashtra government.