New Delhi: Two days after parting ways with Sharad Pawar, P A Sangma today (Jan 27, 2004) moved the Election Commission claiming the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) symbol and flag, contending that his faction was "real and original NCP" as the party's ideology seeking a bar on persons of foreign origin occupying high posts was "100 per cent with us".

In a petition filed with the Commission, he claimed that "overwhelming majority" of party functionaries like MPs, MLAs and others was with his faction.

Asked how he was claiming that his faction was real and original, Sangma said it was on the basis of party's ideology through which it has made commitment to the nation to stop people of foreign origin becoming Prime Minister.

Besides, an overwhelming majority of office bearers including in Maharashtra, the home State of Pawar, were with his faction, he said.

"The entire students wing of Maharashtra en bloc resigned from Pawar group and resolved to join me. I have been getting a lot of individual letters supporting me," Sangma said, adding all these things would be produced before the Commission whenever required.

To a query over Pawar group filing a caveat earlier with the Commission, he said there was no need for a caveat. "I also know a little bit of legal aspects... Reasonable opportunity should be given to them also. I do not want any ex-parte judgment."

Asked as to why Chattisgarh leader V C Shukla has not joined him, Sangma said Shukla is totally opposed to aligning with the Congress and he is not going with Pawar. "He will work with full understanding with me."

Sangma suggested that only his faction has a national character in that it has three States with it - Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

To a question that the Commission normally freezes the symbol in case of such disputes, he said he would not say anything as the matter was before the Commission.