The Supreme Court has reiterated that the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) must include a disclaimer when using the party’s “clock” symbol, as previously directed. This decision came during a hearing on Thursday, as reported.
A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Surya Kant, reviewed a plea filed by the faction led by Sharad Pawar, which accused the Ajit Pawar group of not complying with the court’s earlier order regarding the use of a disclaimer.
Fresh Undertaking Required
The court issued notice to Ajit Pawar and others, seeking their response to the plea. It also directed the faction to submit a fresh undertaking, confirming that they would adhere to the March 19 and April 4 orders, which mandate public notices indicating that the use of the “clock” symbol is subject to ongoing legal proceedings. This compliance is particularly significant during the upcoming state assembly elections.
Justice Surya Kant warned the Ajit Pawar faction against violating the court’s directives, stating that failure to comply could lead to suo motu contempt proceedings.
Context of the NCP Split
The dispute originates from a split within the NCP in July last year, with the party dividing into two factions led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar. The split followed internal disagreements, with the Ajit Pawar faction later joining the ruling coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
In February 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognized the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the legitimate NCP and granted them the right to use the original “clock” symbol. Sharad Pawar has since challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.