Mumbai, Feb 23 (IANS): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has allotted a ‘Man Blowing Turha (Man Blowing Trumpet)' poll symbol to the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), and was welcomed by the latter on Friday.

The trumpet or ‘tutari’ in Marathi, enjoys great relevance for all important or auspicious or military events in Maharashtra and is a well recognised musical instrument across the state since times immemorial.

Hailing the ECI’s decision announced late on Thursday, NCP(SP) leaders said they are now fully ready to blow the trumpet for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, as the clock ticks away.

“The Tutari, in the form of great valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had once deafened the emperor of Delhi. It is a great honour for our party to get Tutari (Man Blowing Turha) as our symbol for upcoming elections. Our Tutari is now ready to shake Delhi's throne under the leadership of Sharad Pawar,” the NCP(SP) said in a post on X.

The development came barely days after the ECI and the Maharashtra Speaker ruled that the ‘NCP’ founded by Sharad Pawar 25 years ago, now belongs to the breakaway faction headed by his nephew (and now, Deputy CM) Ajit Pawar, awarding also the name (NCP) and ‘Clock’ symbol to him.

Embracing the new symbol, the NCP(SP) said that with the united support of farmers, workers, youth, women, Maharashtra will conquer the throne of Delhi.

NCP(SP) President Sharad Pawar, Working President Supriya Sule, General Secretary Dr. Jitendra Awhad, state President Jayant Patil, MP Dr. Amol Kolhe, MLA Rohit R. Pawar and other bigwigs lauded the ECI for giving the new symbol.

Jayant Patil saluted the new poll symbol with the simple but iconic war-cry, “Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’. Jitendra Awhad urged the party to “blow the trumpet, bury the traitors”, while Dr. Amol Kolhe exhorted all the party men to “let’s fight again, win again, let’s blow the ‘trumpet’ of struggle!”