Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has imposed a 36-hour deadline on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, instructing him to issue a formal declaration clarifying that his use of the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) “clock” symbol remains subject to an ongoing judicial review. The order follows complaints from the Sharad Pawar-led faction that Ajit Pawar’s group has continued to use the symbol without acknowledging its sub judice status, in violation of a prior court order.
The Sharad Pawar faction, which has contested the Election Commission’s decision to allocate the clock symbol to Ajit Pawar’s group, has argued that this ongoing usage without a disclaimer misleads voters and disregards the Supreme Court’s earlier mandate. Today’s directive grants Ajit Pawar a final opportunity to comply with these orders.
The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for November 13, a critical date ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. This case is part of a broader conflict over the NCP’s identity following the party’s split earlier this year. The Election Commission had previously granted the NCP name and symbol to Ajit Pawar’s faction, a decision that the Sharad Pawar group is challenging.
In its directive, the Supreme Court underscored the importance of maintaining transparency and respecting the judicial process, especially with elections approaching. The judges emphasized the need for both factions to act in line with their electoral responsibilities while the case remains unresolved.
