The Supreme Court on Thursday directed both the Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to comply with its directives regarding the use of symbols, party names, and disclaimers in their publicity material for assembly and general elections.
While disposing of the applications filed by both sides regarding non-compliance with its March 19 order, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan emphasized the importance of the leaders of both factions being elsewhere, rather than in courts.
The Sharad Pawar faction was directed to educate party workers about using the name ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ and the symbol ‘man blowing turha’ (a traditional trumpet also known as tutari) in their election campaigns.
Additionally, the faction led by the veteran leader was instructed to advise their party workers, leaders, office bearers, and lawmakers against using the ‘clock’ symbol in election advertisements, which has been allotted to the Ajit Pawar-led bloc of the NCP.
Likewise, the Ajit Pawar faction was directed to publish larger and more prominent advertisements in newspapers, stating that the allocation of the ‘clock’ symbol to them is under judicial review, as directed in the Supreme Court’s March 19 order.
The bench declined to alter its directives issued in the March 19 order as requested by the Ajit Pawar-led faction, stating that there appears to be no necessity for modification.
The apex court on March 19 permitted the Sharad Pawar faction to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ as its name for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
Furthermore, the court directed the Ajit Pawar-led faction to issue a public notice in newspapers in English, Hindi, and Marathi editions, stating that the allocation of the ‘clock’ symbol is under judicial scrutiny before the court, and the respondent has been allowed to use it subject to the final outcome of the proceedings.
“This declaration shall be included in every pamphlet, advertisement, audio, or video clip to be issued by the respondent (NCP) political party,” the apex court had emphasized.
