A request from Sharad Pawar prompted the Supreme Court to issue a directive, seeking to prevent the group led by Ajit Pawar from utilizing the NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol.
In Short
- The court has directed the faction led by Ajit Pawar to utilize the clock symbol along with a disclaimer.
- Kindly request that the party submit the undertaking before November 4th.
- On November 20, Maharashtra is set to hold elections with the outcomes expected to be announced three days after.
The NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar has been permitted by the Supreme Court to continue using the “clock” symbol for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election. The court, nevertheless, instructed the Ajit Pawar faction to display a disclaimer alongside the symbol and submit a new agreement by November 4, pledging not to contravene its instructions.
The Supreme Court has instructed the Ajit Pawar camp to submit a new commitment assuring that they will comply with the court’s directives until the elections conclude. The court warned them against putting themselves in an awkward position and emphasized that if any deliberate breach of the order is observed, the court may take suo motu contempt action.
The NCP’s “clock” symbol was assigned to Ajit Pawar’s faction by the Election Commission after a rift within the party earlier this year. Subsequently, in 2023, Ajit Pawar defied his uncle and aligned with the governing Mahayuti coalition.
In preparation for the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court granted permission for the Sharad Pawar faction to adopt the name “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar” alongside the symbol depicting a man blowing “turha”. Nonetheless, the court specified that the Ajit Pawar faction is prohibited from exploiting the name and images of Sharad Pawar for political purposes.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, alleged during Thursday’s hearing that the Ajit Pawar faction failed to incorporate a disclaimer in their election posters. Singhvi claimed that the opposing group is seeking to leverage Sharad Pawar’s reputation solely for electoral gains.
Singhvi mentioned that despite your lordships’ orders for them to clearly disclaim any connection to Sharad Pawar and assert that they are solely associated with Ajit Pawar, they have not complied by issuing any disclaimer themselves.
He stated that the goal is evident – to ride on my coattails… They even acknowledge that Sharad Pawar is their fatherly figure,” he mentioned.
Singhvi further highlighted that there was a momentary confusion within the Lok Sabha Secretariat concerning the two factions of the NCP.
The senior advocate declared that the commitment made by them is being challenged. He urged not to present him or them with a clock but to choose any other symbol instead. It was emphasized that no one should benefit from a symbol under legal consideration.
Balbir Singh, a senior advocate representing the Ajit Pawar faction, stated that they had adhered to all directives from the court.
Singh mentioned that false documents are being utilized despite disclaimers being issued. He added that the individuals are attempting their luck once more. Singh expressed readiness to organize all the pamphlets and documents available for filing.
The next hearing for the matter is scheduled for November 4th.
