New Delhi/IBNS: The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday filed a caveat application in the Supreme Court, praying that no order should be passed by the top judiciary without hearing them on any possible plea by the rival Sharad Pawar faction against the Election Commission of India (ECI) order related to the party.

The caveat filed through advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh has pleaded that no ex-parte order should be passed against them if the Sharad Pawar faction moves an appeal against the ECI order officially recognising the Ajit Pawar-led group as the real NCP.

The ECI has also allotted the NCP symbol 'clock' to the Ajit Pawar-led group.

The ECI said the decision was taken based on laid-out tests of the maintainability of such a petition, which included tests of the aims and objectives of the party constitution, tests of the party constitution, and tests of majority both organisational and legislative.

Sharad Pawar has been asked to choose a name for his faction given the upcoming Rajya Sabha election.

They have been asked to convey the name and symbol of their faction to the poll body by 3 pm on Feb 7.

The split followed by the EC decision is seen as a huge loss of face for his 83-year-old uncle.

[With UNI inputs]