Supreme Court Asserts: Order to Stay Till Polls Conclude

Veteran Maharashtra politician Sharad Pawar's legal battle against his nephew, Ajit Pawar, took a new turn as he moved the Supreme Court, alleging non-compliance with a previous court order. The issue revolves around the allocation of the clock symbol to the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, expressed concern over the failure of Ajit Pawar's faction to publish disclaimers as directed by the court. He emphasized the urgency of the matter, especially with elections looming.

"In the middle of the elections it cannot be changed like this," Singhvi stressed. However, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ajit Pawar, argued for a modification of the court's order, claiming that the matter was yet to be conclusively decided by the Supreme Court.

Dismissing Rohatgi's request, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan asserted that the order must remain in effect until the conclusion of the polls. "No, this has to continue till polls conclude. Nobody can misconstrue our order," the Court reiterated. The Court sought details of advertisements issued thus far and reserved judgment on listing Sharad Pawar's plea for a later date.

The dispute within the NCP arose in July 2023, leading to a split into two factions following a rebellion by Ajit Pawar. The faction led by Ajit Pawar currently supports the ruling Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) recognized the faction led by Ajit Pawar as the real NCP after he submitted affidavits from a majority of NCP MLAs. This decision was challenged by Sharad Pawar in the Supreme Court. On March 19, the Supreme Court permitted the Ajit Pawar faction to use the party's clock symbol for the upcoming elections, subject to certain conditions, including the incorporation of disclaimers indicating the pending judicial scrutiny.

Sharad Pawar's recent plea alleges the non-compliance of these conditions by the Ajit Pawar faction and seeks modification of the court's directive. The legal battle between the two factions of the NCP continues amidst the electoral landscape of Maharashtra.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University