In a decisive ruling, the Supreme Court directed the faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to stop using Sharad Pawar’s name, photos, and the “clock” symbol in their campaign material for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. This measure is meant to prevent confusion among voters as the two factions vie for political influence. The court emphasized that the Ajit Pawar-led faction should rely solely on its distinct identity and avoid referencing NCP founder Sharad Pawar, reflecting their ideological split.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar’s NCP, argued that Ajit Pawar’s group has continued using Sharad Pawar’s legacy to bolster its campaign, violating prior court instructions. The justices advised that if Ajit Pawar’s faction truly wishes to stand independently, they should prevent their members from using the veteran leader’s image in campaign promotions.
The court also suggested that Ajit Pawar’s faction adopt a new election symbol to clearly differentiate between the two entities. Ajit Pawar’s side, however, argued the difficulty in monitoring campaign materials shared by local supporters across digital and physical platforms. Despite this, the court urged Ajit Pawar’s NCP to actively uphold the separation, scheduling the next hearing on November 19, a day before the Maharashtra elections
 led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to stop using Sharad Pawar's name, photos, and the "clock" symbol in their campaign material for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.){kind=link}