New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party as to why it used Sharad Pawar's picture in posters in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, saying “you are so confident of your popularity and being a public leader, go ahead with your photograph, why are you riding on his back…”.
The apex court told Ajit Pawar group's counsel, “Give an undertaking to us that you will not allow any of your workers to use his (Sharad Pawar) photograph…otherwise we will be constrained to pass an order…”, and added when elections come they need Sharad Pawar’s name and when it is over, “you don’t need him”.
At the outset, senior advocate A M Singhvi, representing the Sharad Pawar group, asked why the Ajit Pawar group wanted to piggyback on the Sharad Pawar group. “I am on my own, I have got my name and my symbol, let him (Ajit Pawar) use anything under the sun except clock and trumpet and not my photo… of free and fair elections, level playing field, democracy, and the basic structure of the Constitution…you have the guts get votes yourself, why piggyback…”, said Singhvi.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan queried senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Ajit Pawar group, “To that extent he is right, why are you using his photograph…you are so confident of your popularity and being a public leader, go ahead with your photograph, why are you riding on his back…”.
Singh along with advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh said this is not the Ajit Pawar party section which is doing it. Justice Kant said then who will take the responsibility, unless you want us to restrain everyone. “Give an undertaking to us that you will not allow any of your worker to use his (Sharad Pawar) photograph…otherwise we will be constrained to pass an order”, said Justice Kant, adding that Ajit Pawar group cannot say that it is separate political party but for going to elections they will use Sharad Pawar’s face.
“Now that you are two separate entities, with a different kind of identity, go with your identity only…you have chosen to separate with him…it is for you to control your workers… suppose for the purpose of encashing his popularity in the masses...”, said justice Kant, adding that when elections come you need Sharad Pawar’s name and when it is over, “you don’t need him”.
The bench told Singh that since Ajit Pawar group is a separate political identity, it is better to stick to that, while suggesting to give an undertaking that his faction would not use pictures of Sharad Pawar group in the publicity materials during the Lok Sabha or assembly polls.
Singh did not agree with the suggestion of giving an undertaking to the court and pointed out the probability of various issues associated with it.
The apex court said it has yet not formed its view on the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Ajit Pawar group as real NCP with a clock symbol.