The Supreme Court has issued a stern directive to Ajit Pawar, leader of a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction, to publish a disclaimer in major newspapers within 24 to 36 hours. The disclaimer must state that the use of the NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol by his faction is subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
During a hearing on Wednesday, Justice Surya Kant emphasized the urgency of the matter, questioning why the faction needed several days to publish the disclaimer. Senior Advocate Balbir Singh, representing Ajit Pawar, initially requested two to three days for compliance but was quickly corrected by the bench, which includes Justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan, insisting on a faster response.
The court’s order comes amidst a legal battle over the symbol following a split within the NCP, leading to the emergence of factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, respectively. The Election Commission of India had previously allocated the ‘clock’ symbol to Ajit Pawar’s faction after it demonstrated a legislative majority.
Sharad Pawar’s faction has challenged this decision, leading to a Supreme Court intervention that mandated a disclaimer in all campaign materials. This disclaimer must inform the public that the symbol’s use by the Ajit Pawar faction is provisional, pending the resolution of the legal challenge.
The controversy escalated when the Sharad Pawar faction alleged that the Ajit Pawar faction had not complied with the Supreme Court’s March 19 directive to include the disclaimer in their campaign advertisements. This accusation led to the recent court hearing and the reinforced order for immediate action.
This case not only underscores the ongoing internal strife within the NCP but also highlights the broader implications for party identity and election dynamics in Maharashtra. The Supreme Court’s involvement underscores its role in ensuring that electoral processes remain transparent and legally compliant, especially when internal party disputes spill over into public and legal arenas.
