The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Ajit Pawar faction, recognised by the Election Commission as the Nationalist Congress Party, against using the name and photograph of veteran leader and party founder Sharad Pawar.
This occurred on Thursday, during the hearing of a plea by Sharad Pawar contesting the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to recognise Ajit Pawar's faction as the official Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and award them the 'clock' symbol.
“Why are you (Ajit Pawar) using his photograph? Go ahead with your own photographs. Why are you riding on his back?” questioned a Justice Surya Kant-led bench.
In response, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, stated that the party was not engaged in such actions and that a proper response would be submitted addressing the claims made by the opposing party.
The bench, which included Justice KV Viswanathan, responded by asking, "Who will stop? Who will take the responsibility? Give an undertaking to us that you will not allow any of your workers to use his photograph. Otherwise, we will be constrained to pass an order.”
“We want a very categoric and unconditional undertaking from you that you (Ajit Pawar) will not use his name directly or indirectly,” it added.
Agreeing with the apex court’s suggestion, Senior Advocate Singh emphasized the need for a system to prevent falsely created materials from being linked to the Ajit Pawar faction.
The apex court ordered that an undertaking be provided within two days, stating, "You give a public notice with wide publicity and clarify everything." “You disclose how you want to be known in the political world. Let there be a public notice. Then, you discipline your members. They are your members.”
Appearing for veteran leader Sharad Pawar, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, submitted that the ‘clock’ symbol is immeasurably intertwined with his name and the Ajit Pawar faction should not be allowed to use it as well.
The matter is directed to be listed next on March 19.
In an interim relief, the Supreme Court had directed that the Sharad Pawar side may continue to use the name 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' till further orders.
It had granted liberty to the senior Pawar to approach the Election Commission of India for the allocation of the party symbol and directed the poll panel to allocate it within one week of receiving the application.
The NCP split in July last year, with a faction led by nephew Ajit Pawar rebelling against his uncle Sharad Pawar to join the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra.