NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Ajit Pawar group of Nationalist Congress Party to give a categorical and unconditional undertaking against use of Sharad Pawar's photo in impending Lok Sabha polls.
The court asked Ajit Pawar group as to why it was desirous to use photo of Sharad Pawar in posters after parting ways with the founder of the party.
"We need categorical, unconditional undertaking that name, pictures of Sharad Pawar will not be used," a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Vishwanathan told the Ajit Pawar faction.
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"Go with your identity. You can't encash his name. When elections comes, you need his name but when it is over, you don't need him," the bench told senior advocate Maninder Singh appearing for the Ajit Pawar group.
The court asked Singh to give an undertaking that his faction would not use picture of Sharad Pawar group in the publicity materials during the Lok Sabha or Assembly polls.
The bench said the top court has yet not formed its view on the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Ajit Pawar group as real NCP with clock symbol.
Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Sharad Pawar group, asked why Ajit Pawar group wanted to ride piggyback on Sharad Pawar group.
There are issues of free and fair elections, level playing field, democracy, which are the basic structure of the Constitution, he said.
Singhvi cited statement of Chhagan Bhujbal about use of picture of Sharad Pawar during campaign in rural areas, saying this is blatant deception. "If they are so confident of winning elections, let them do that on their own," he said.
"Why are you using his picture?
Give us an undertaking or we will pass an order. Go with your identity only. You have separated yourself," the bench told Singh.
The court said both the factions should come out with their own identity.
The court asked Singh to give an undertaking on Saturday in this regard as it posted the matter for hearing on March 18.
Sharad Pawar has earlier challenged the Election Commission's decision of February 6, recognising the group by Ajit Pawar as the NCP and awarding it party symbol of 'Clock'.
Sharad Pawar is uncle of Ajit Pawar and has founded the NCP.
Ajit Pawar and eight other legislators of the NCP joined Maharashtras ruling coalition of Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and BJP in July, 2023.
