Supreme Court Directs NCP Ajit Pawar Faction to Publicly Acknowledge Symbol Dispute
The Supreme Court issued a directive on Tuesday, instructing the NCP Ajit Pawar faction to make a public declaration regarding the contested use of the clock symbol for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections. This declaration, the Court emphasized, should underscore the sub-judice nature of the matter, pending the outcome of the challenge mounted by the Sharad Pawar group against the Election Commission of India’s decision recognizing the Ajit Pawar faction as the authentic Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The Court mandated that the NCP-Ajit Pawar faction publish notices in English, Marathi, and Hindi newspapers, explicitly stating that the allocation of the clock symbol remains under judicial consideration. It further stipulated that this declaration must be integrated into all communication materials, including templates, advertisements, and audio or video clips disseminated on behalf of the respondent political party.
Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled that the Sharad Pawar group retains the right to utilize the name “Nationalist Congress Party – Sharad Chandra Pawar” along with the “man blowing turrah (trumpet)” symbol for both Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. This symbol, designated for the NCP Sharad Pawar faction, is to be reserved exclusively for their use and must not be allocated to any other political entity or independent candidate, with strict enforcement by the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission of Maharashtra.
Furthermore, the Court extended the undertaking by the NCP to refrain from employing Sharad Pawar’s name and images in election posters, ensuring its application across states beyond Maharashtra.
These interim directions were issued by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan during the hearing of a Special Leave Petition filed by the Sharad Pawar group challenging the ECI’s decision on February 6 to recognize the Ajit Pawar faction as the legitimate NCP and grant them the clock symbol.
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