In a significant directive, the Supreme Court has instructed Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to refrain from using images or videos of party founder Sharad Pawar in election campaigns. This comes after the Ajit-led faction, which split from Sharad Pawar’s NCP in July last year, faced accusations of using his uncle’s popularity to sway voters ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra elections on November 20.
Court’s Firm Stance on Independent Campaigning
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that Ajit Pawar’s faction must establish its own identity, stating, “Learn to stand on your own feet.” The court made this remark following claims by Sharad Pawar’s counsel, Abhishek Singhvi, that Ajit’s camp was circulating old videos of Sharad, creating a misleading impression of unity between the factions.
The court directed Ajit Pawar’s camp to issue an official notice to its workers and leaders, banning any campaign material that includes Sharad Pawar’s image or videos.
Contentious Use of the Clock Symbol
The dispute over the use of the NCP’s clock symbol has been a contentious issue as both factions vie for control over the party’s identity. Previously, the court allowed Ajit Pawar’s faction to use the symbol but mandated them to clarify that the final ruling on symbol ownership is pending.
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This follows a poor performance by Ajit Pawar’s faction in the recent federal elections, where it won only one of four contested seats, while Sharad’s NCP secured eight seats.
Sharad vs Ajit: The Ongoing Political Rift
The split within the NCP intensified after Ajit Pawar joined forces with the BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a move similar to Shinde’s earlier break from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The rivalry between the two Pawars is further amplified by the family contest for Baramati, a traditional stronghold. Ajit Pawar is fielding his wife, Sunetra, against Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, in the Lok Sabha, while Ajit himself faces Sharad’s grandnephew, Yugendra Pawar, in the upcoming state polls.
As both sides compete for control of the NCP voter base, Sharad Pawar recently downplayed the family feud narrative, suggesting it is time for a generational shift in leadership.
