Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Supreme Court bars Ajit-led NCP from using photos, videos of Sharad Pawar for campaigning

Ajit Pawar broke away from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP in July 2023, after which he was granted the original name and symbol of the party by the apex court.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Ajit Pawar NCP faction to desist from the using the photos or videos of Sharad Pawar in their campaign materials for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, saying he should stand on his own legs.

The top court asked the NCP chief to issue an electronic circular among candidates and office bearers to not use the video clip or photograph of Sharad Pawar. 

“You confine on your own identity as a separate and distinct political party," a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan told senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ajit Pawar group.

The court reiterated the Ajit Pawar faction should not either use photos or videos of Sharad Pawar in their campaign.

"Since you are fighting against him then you should definitely not use it, and try to stand up on your own legs. Whatever support you have among the people," the bench said.

Singh said he is making a statement that they are not using it but the counsel, representing Sharad Pawar, wanted to prejudice the court with these videos, which are not there. 

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Sharad Pawar faction, said it is a video from the official handle showing only Sharad Pawar. 

The bench asked the parties to focus on the battlefield and the people will answer everything.

“People have responded in the past. They are very intelligent; they are very wise. They know where to vote and where not to vote. We have no doubt about their wisdom, in identifying how is Ajit Pawar and who is Sharad Pawar, the only thing is sometimes, the video clips are may or may not influence the voters, but there is an order by the court that should be faithfully respected and complied with,” the bench said.

Singhvi produced certain materials, which he claimed were published allegedly in violation of the apex court’s order. 

He claimed that one Amol Mitkari, of the NCP (Ajit Pawar), had published photos showing only Sharad Pawar and it was argued that Ajit Pawar's side was trying to "piggyback" on the goodwill of the reputation of Sharad Pawar. 

Singh contested these allegations. The bench asked Singh to check what Mitkari posted some video clip of Sharad Pawar.

"Just find out, issue some electronic circular among candidates and office bearers to not use the video clip or photograph of Sharad Pawar. You confine on your own identity as a separate and distinct political party,” the bench told Singh. 

Singh said his client will comply with the court's direction.

The bench said there are some instances which are eye opener due to the artificial intelligence (AI), and we have to be very careful. 

Singh said he will verify and undertake to make an electronic statement. 

The court fixed the matter, arising out of a plea filed by Sharad Pawar for further hearing next week.

Earlier, the Ajit Pawar faction had said it would publish fresh disclaimers in newspapers regarding use of the clock symbol for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Sharad Pawar faction claimed that the Ajit Pawar faction has engineered confusion in the minds of voters by using the clock symbol without any disclaimer.

Earlier this year before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the court had directed NCP to include a disclaimer in all the campaign materials that the use of the 'clock' symbol is pending before the court.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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