SC prohibits Ajit Pawar group from using Sharad Pawar’s name during election campaign

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan asked the Ajit Pawar group to file an undertaking categorically stating that they will not directly or indirectly use the name of Sharad Pawar during the election campaign.

The court suggested the Ajit Pawar group use a symbol other than the 'clock' symbol for elections to avoid confusion.

The matter came up before the court on a plea filed by Sharad Pawar's faction challenging the Election Commission's decision which had held that Ajit Pawar's faction as the official Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and allotted the 'clock' symbol to them.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Sharad Pawar group, submitted that the official faction was using the 'clock' symbol, which is historically associated with Sharad Pawar, and the names and pictures of the senior Pawar in campaign materials.

He said that the statement was made by Chhagan Bhujbal, to his party members that the 'clock' symbol and pictures of Sharad Pawar should be used in posters to lure rural voters.

The bench asked senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Ajit Pawar group why they were using the photographs of Sharad Pawar. It said, “If you are so confident, then use your photographs."

To this, Singh replied that no one from the party was doing this, maybe some stray members might have done it. Singh further said that it may not be possible to control all social media posters by the workers.

The bench categorically said that it is for the party to discipline its members.

Justice Kant asked, "Then who is responsible?" and directed, "You give an undertaking that you will stop all members of your faction from using his photo. Now that you are two separate entities, go only with your own identity. You have chosen to separate. Now stick to this. It is for you to control your workers."

The court directed the Ajit Pawar faction to submit a categorical and unconditional undertaking that, 'there will be no overlap and you will not use his name, photos, etc of the Sharad Pawar faction," Justice Kant further directed.

[With UNI inputs]