Supreme Court Slams Ajit Pawar’s Faction, Asks To ‘Stand On Its Own Feet’ l, Stop Using Sharad Pawar’s Name And Image In Campaign
Supreme Court Slams Ajit Pawar’s Faction, Asks To 'Stand On Its Own Feet' l, Stop Using Sharad Pawar's Name And Image In Campaign
In a significant intervention just days ahead of the Maharashtra elections, the Supreme Court on Wednesday criticized Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for continuing to use the name and images of veteran leader Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials. The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, questioned the Ajit Pawar-led NCP’s reliance on Sharad Pawar’s identity and instructed the faction to establish its own political identity, urging it to “stand on its own feet.”
The court raised this issue while hearing a plea filed by Sharad Pawar, the leader of the NCP (SP) faction, seeking to prohibit Ajit Pawar’s group from using the clock symbol, which has been associated with the undivided NCP since its inception. This legal battle over the NCP’s legacy, including its name, logo, and symbolism, has drawn considerable public interest as the two factions contest control of the party’s identity and voter base.
“Why is the name of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) supremo Sharad Pawar being repeatedly used in online content put up by Ajit Pawar-led NCP?” Justice Surya Kant questioned. The court expressed frustration over the apparent contradictions in Ajit Pawar’s approach, noting that while he has chosen to depart ideologically from his uncle, he continues to rely on his name and image for support.
The court’s remarks come at a crucial moment as Maharashtra prepares for its upcoming assembly elections on November 20. The division within the NCP, which once wielded significant influence in the state’s political landscape, has raised questions about the future of both factions as they now compete separately.
