‘Stick to your identity’: Supreme Court issues notice to Ajit Pawar faction for using Sharad Pawar’s photos for campaigning

The Supreme Court on Thursday called out the Ajit Pawar faction, which has been officially declared as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) by the Election Commission, for using veteran leader Sharad Pawar’s photos for election campaigning.

A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan instructed the Ajit Pawar faction to submit an undertaking that they will refrain from directly or indirectly utilising Sharad Pawar’s name. Furthermore, the bench recommended that the Ajit Pawar group select a symbol other than the ‘clock’ for the elections to prevent any confusion.

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“You are a different political party now. You have chosen not to be with him. Now stick to this. Why to use his (Sharad Pawar) picture… Go with your own identity now…” the bench noted,as ANI reported.

The apex court has issued a notice to the Ajit Pawar faction, seeking their response by Saturday regarding an application filed by the Sharad Pawar group concerning the alleged misuse of names and images to sway voters.

The case has been scheduled for the next hearing on March 19.

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During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Sharad Pawar faction, informed the bench about posters displayed by the Ajit Pawar faction featuring the ‘clock’ symbol and an image of Sharad Pawar, describing them as “blatant patent deception, riding piggyback on my goodwill.”

He further argued, “Democracy, fair, and free elections are part of the basic structure. If they are so confident of winning the elections, then let them do so on their own.”

In response, Justice Kant asked senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Ajit Pawar group, “Why are you using his (Sharad Pawar’s) photographs? If you are so confident, then use your photographs?” Singh replied that the party was not responsible for it and attributed it to some stray members.

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The bench told Singh, “Then who is responsible? You give an undertaking that you will stop all your members from using his (Sharad Pawar) photo… It is for you to control your workers.” The top court also asked Ajit Pawar’s faction to provide an undertaking that they will not use Sharad Pawar’s photos.

“We need a categorical and unconditional undertaking that the name and pictures of Sharad Pawar will not be used,” the bench ordered.

It suggested that ideally, both factions should issue public notices to establish their new identities. Singhvi also objected to the ECI allowing the ‘clock’ symbol to the Ajit Pawar group, stating that a new symbol should have been allotted to them after the party split.

“Tomorrow suppose we set aside this order? And let’s say we do this in the middle of the election. What will happen?” Better to select a symbol other than this and use it for elections,” the bench concluded.

Earlier, the apex court had directed that the Election Commission’s order of February 7, allotting ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction, would continue until further orders.

(WIth ANI Inputs)