NEW DELHI: SC on Wednesday told Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which has been allowed to use the prized ‘clock’ symbol for Maharashtra assembly elections subject to certain conditions, not to use Sharad Pawar’s pictures in its campaign and asked NCP functionaries to try to stand on their feet.
It was a bitter verbal clash between senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Pawar Sr, and senior advocate Balbir Singh, who appeared for Ajit-led NCP and told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that the party had scrupulously followed SC’s order in issuing disclaimer advertisements in media about the ‘clock symbol’ being sub judice.
Singhvi repeatedly complained that a functionary of Ajit-led NCP, MLC Amol Mitkari, had posted pictures of Pawar Sr on X (formerly Twitter), and alleged that the attempt was to show that the Pawars were still united as a family and that there was no rift in order to create confusion in the minds of voters.
“Ajit Pawar-led NCP can’t piggyback on Sharad Pawar’s goodwill in blatant violation of SC orders,” Singhvi said. Maharashtra votes on Nov 20.
The bench doubted whether rural voters would be affected by an X post, which is generally for consumption of urban population. “Do you think people of Maharashtra do not know that the two leaders have parted ways and gone in opposite directions?” the bench said and wanted to know from Singhvi the assembly seats in which these two parties are in direct contest.
Singhvi said they were in direct contest in 36 seats, but the attempt was to create confusion in all 288 seats to benefit the rival coalition in which Ajit’s NCP was a partner.
Could an X post cause confusion when disclaimers had been published virtually in all newspapers, the bench wondered.
To determine the veracity of the allegations of violations by Ajit Pawar-NCP, a fact-finding committee must be constituted, it said.
Listing further hearing for Nov 19, a day before the polls, the bench sought clarification from Ajit’s party on a certain post using Pawar Sr’s photo and said: “You have published disclaimers. But what Singhvi is saying is right. Whether it is an old or recent photo of Sharad Pawar, ask your functionaries not to use any of his photos.”
“Tell your party functionaries that they will not use old or new video clips or use photographs of Sharad Pawar with whom your party is having ideological differences. You try to stand on your legs,” the bench said.
