A fresh political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after the unveiling of a statue of legendary Bengali cinema icon Uttam Kumar. The statue, inaugurated on the actor's death anniversary, has drawn widespread criticism on social media, with many claiming it bears little resemblance to the iconic superstar.

The issue quickly turned political as opposition leaders and even voices within the Trinamool Congress questioned the quality of the statue, calling for it to be replaced. The controversy comes at a crucial time for the Trinamool Congress, which is grappling with internal divisions following a major party split.

Uttam Kumar Statue Sparks Political Storm in Bengal | Mamata Banerjee Faces Fresh TMC Crisis

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will be breathing easy after the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday (Dec 26) suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) declaration of the PTI’s intra-party polls as unconstitutional whilst calling for revocation of the party's 'bat' election symbol.&nbsp;

Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel presided over the case and delivered the verdict after PTI filed a petition, objecting the ECP decision.&nbsp;

“PTI lawyers informed [the court] that intra-party polls were carried out over the orders of the election commission," said Justice Miankhel, who directed that notices be issued to the ECP and other respondents in the case. 
 
The court said the party's election symbol will be restored in a final decision by the double bench that will hear the matter after winter vacations.&nbsp;

After the decision, PTI counsel&nbsp;Barrister Ali Zafar said the court said the election symbol was the “life” of any party and a basic constitutional right of the organisation and its workers, supporters and voters.

“Today the high court has upheld that basic right and declared that the ‘bat’ symbol belongs to the PTI and restored it.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-imran-khans-party-says-loss-of-election-symbol-part-of-london-plan-672811">Also read |&nbsp;Pakistan: Imran Khan’s party says loss of election symbol part of ‘London plan’</a>

<h2>What did ECP do?</h2>

It was last week that the five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, declared PTI's intra-party elections unlawful.&nbsp;

The electoral watchdog voided PTI's internal elections for the second time in which Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the party's new chairman.&nbsp;

"It is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017," the ECP said in its 11-page order.

The ECP also&nbsp;declared the PTI ineligible to obtain an electoral symbol under the Elections Act, 2017. It added that PTI never submitted any record of any competent authority to exercise the intra-party elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-bat-symbol-taken-away-from-imran-khans-pti-672719">Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan: Bat symbol taken away from Imran Khan's PTI</a>

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<h2>'London plan'</h2>

After the order by the ECP, PTI called the decision a "part of the famous London plan" and a "disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI" from participating in the general elections.&nbsp; 
 
"The Election Commission of Pakistan has tried to destroy the constitution, democracy and transparency of elections in the country through its decision...This biased and biased decision of the Commission cannot stand in its place and we will challenge it before the Supreme Court," said the party on X.

With the all-important elections approaching, the loss of the election symbol would have meant that Khan's party and its connection to the public would have broken down.&nbsp;

Voters in tribal areas identify Khan's party primarily with its bat symbol. Given Khan's acclaimed record as one of the finest cricketers Pakistan has ever produced, his party is identified with the cricket bat across the country.&nbsp;

 
(With inputs from agencies)

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will be breathing easy after the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday (Dec 26) suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) declaration of the PTI’s intra-party polls as unconstitutional whilst calling for revocation of the party's 'bat' election symbol.

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will be breathing easy after the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday (Dec 26) suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) declaration of the PTI’s intra-party polls as unconstitutional whilst calling for revocation of the party's 'bat' election symbol. Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel presided over the case and delivered the verdict after PTI filed a petition, objecting the ECP decision. “PTI lawyers informed [the court] that intra-party polls were carried out over the orders of the election commission," said Justice Miankhel, who directed that notices be issued to the ECP and other respondents in the case. The court said the party's election symbol will be restored in a final decision by the double bench that will hear the matter after winter vacations. After the decision, PTI counsel Barrister Ali Zafar said the court said the election symbol was the “life” of any party and a basic constitutional right of the organisation and its workers, supporters and voters. “Today the high court has upheld that basic right and declared that the ‘bat’ symbol belongs to the PTI and restored it.” Also read | Pakistan: Imran Khan’s party says loss of election symbol part of ‘London plan’ What did ECP do? It was last week that the five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, declared PTI's intra-party elections unlawful. The electoral watchdog voided PTI's internal elections for the second time in which Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the party's new chairman. "It is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017," the ECP said in its 11-page order. The ECP also declared the PTI ineligible to obtain an electoral symbol under the Elections Act, 2017. It added that PTI never submitted any record of any competent authority to exercise the intra-party elections. Watch | Pakistan: Bat symbol taken away from Imran Khan's PTI × 'London plan' After the order by the ECP, PTI called the decision a "part of the famous London plan" and a "disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI" from participating in the general elections. "The Election Commission of Pakistan has tried to destroy the constitution, democracy and transparency of elections in the country through its decision...This biased and biased decision of the Commission cannot stand in its place and we will challenge it before the Supreme Court," said the party on X. With the all-important elections approaching, the loss of the election symbol would have meant that Khan's party and its connection to the public would have broken down. Voters in tribal areas identify Khan's party primarily with its bat symbol. Given Khan's acclaimed record as one of the finest cricketers Pakistan has ever produced, his party is identified with the cricket bat across the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Relief for Imran Khan’s party: Peshawar High Court restores PTI’s ‘bat’ election symbol

The disqualifications of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and party member Ram Gopal Yadav were never taken back on paper.

Sources said revoking the duo&#39;s disqualification was conditional. It was decided that both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal would not conduct the party&#39;s national convention but they went ahead, and hence their disqualifications were not revoked.

Ram Gopal was sacked on January 1 for the third time by party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav after he declared Akhilesh the new national president of the Samajwadi Party at a special national party convention.

Mulayam termed the national convention &quot;unconstitutional&quot; and dismissed the proposals passed in it as &quot;illegal&quot;.

A letter issued by Mulayam blamed Ram Gopal for &#39;conspiring&#39; to harm the party.

Only the party president can call a&nbsp;convention, and not disqualified members.

On December 30, the feud-riddled Samajwadi Party had hurtled towards a split after Mulayam expelled Akhilesh and Ram Gopal from the party for six years.

The shock move came a day after Akhilesh, the party patriarch&#39;s son, came up with his own list of 235 candidates for the assembly polls.

As the crisis within the Samajwadi Party refuses to die down, Ram Gopal is schedule to meet with the officials of Election Commission to stake claim for the party symbol &#39;Cycle&#39;.

Mulayam, and senior leaders Amar Singh, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Jaya Prada met the Election Commission yesterday over the same issue.

Mulayam on Monday postponed the January 5 emergency convention. No fresh date has been announced for the convention.

(ANI)

The duo's disqualification was not revoked because they went ahead with the party's national convention

The disqualifications of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and party member Ram Gopal Yadav were never taken back on paper. Sources said revoking the duo's disqualification was conditional. It was decided that both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal would not conduct the party's national convention but they went ahead, and hence their disqualifications were not revoked. Ram Gopal was sacked on January 1 for the third time by party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav after he declared Akhilesh the new national president of the Samajwadi Party at a special national party convention. Mulayam termed the national convention "unconstitutional" and dismissed the proposals passed in it as "illegal". A letter issued by Mulayam blamed Ram Gopal for 'conspiring' to harm the party. Only the party president can call a convention, and not disqualified members. On December 30, the feud-riddled Samajwadi Party had hurtled towards a split after Mulayam expelled Akhilesh and Ram Gopal from the party for six years. The shock move came a day after Akhilesh, the party patriarch's son, came up with his own list of 235 candidates for the assembly polls. As the crisis within the Samajwadi Party refuses to die down, Ram Gopal is schedule to meet with the officials of Election Commission to stake claim for the party symbol 'Cycle'. Mulayam, and senior leaders Amar Singh, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Jaya Prada met the Election Commission yesterday over the same issue. Mulayam on Monday postponed the January 5 emergency convention. No fresh date has been announced for the convention. (ANI)

Yadav vs Yadav: Akhilesh, Ram Gopal's disqualifications were never taken back on paper

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