In a significant development before the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on the plea of the Sharad Pawar faction over the use of the ‘Clock’ symbol in the Assembly election. It asked the Ajit Pawar faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol for the upcoming elections with a disclaimer that its use was a matter of contest in Courts and was subject to the outcome of the petition filed by Sharad Pawar.

Earlier SC Order

Earlier the apex court ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, directed the NCP to include a disclaimer in all the campaign materials that the use of the ‘clock’ symbol was sub-judice. Now, the court has directed Ajit Pawar to file an undertaking to the effect that the previous orders will be followed for the State Assembly elections as well.

Sharad Pawar Faction Seeks Restrain

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan took up the petition of the Sharad Pawar faction seeking to restrain the Ajit Pawar faction from using the ‘clock’ symbol. The Sharad Pawar faction prayed that the apex court direct the respondent to apply for a new symbol to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections.

Appearing for the Ajit Pawar faction, senior advocate Balbir Singh denied the claim that all pamphlets and campaign materials had the disclaimers as mandated by the Supreme Court. He said he could produce the campaign materials before the Supreme Court and sought time to do the same.