Supreme Court urges NCP factions to focus on elections, not legal battles

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, upheld its decision permitting Ajit Pawar to utilize the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) name and its ‘clock’ symbol, with the stipulation that it must be clearly stated that the matter is under legal scrutiny. Despite pleas from both factions of the NCP for a fresh judicial intervention, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan reiterated its directive, urging the warring factions to comply with its instructions regarding the use of party names, symbols, and the dissemination of disclaimers in all forms of media.

Key Points :

SC instructs NCP factions to follow orders on use of name, symbol

Sharad Pawar faction to use ‘NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar’

Ajit Pawar-led faction to publish public notices on ‘clock’ symbol

The rift between the senior Pawar’s faction and Ajit Pawar’s bloc escalated as the former accused the latter of failing to adhere to the court’s directive to include disclaimers in advertisements regarding their transient control over the party’s name and symbol. 

Conversely, Ajit Pawar’s faction alleged that Sharad Pawar’s workers were unlawfully using the ‘clock’ symbol in social media posts.

Representing Pawar senior, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi contended that the court’s instructed disclaimer was not being published in advertisements, constituting a violation of the court’s order. On the other hand, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ajit Pawar, shifted the blame onto the rival faction for utilizing the ‘clock’ symbol in advertisements and social media posts.

Following a brief hearing, the Supreme Court emphasized the need for sensitizing party workers on the ground to ensure compliance with the court order. Despite acknowledging the good faith of senior leaders and officers of both factions, the court urged them to concentrate on matters beyond the legal dispute, especially with the ongoing poll process.

In an interim order issued on March 19, the apex court had granted Ajit’s faction permission to participate in the Lok Sabha elections under the NCP banner and the ‘clock’ symbol. The court’s recent directive underscores the importance of adhering to legal protocols amidst political turbulence, urging both NCP factions to prioritize electoral activities over legal battles.