'Try to stand on your own legs, don't use Sharad Pawar's photo': SC asks Ajit-led NCP faction
New Delhi: In a hearing on Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to refrain from using images and videos of Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Court emphasised that Ajit Pawar’s group should campaign based on its separate identity, advising him to issue instructions to his party members accordingly.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was addressing an application filed by Sharad Pawar, requesting the Court to prevent Ajit Pawar’s faction from using the NCP’s clock symbol in the election. Previously, the Court had instructed Ajit Pawar to publish disclaimers regarding the use of the symbol.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, presented materials, including photos and social media posts, allegedly violating the Court’s previous order. Singhvi pointed to Amol Mitkari, a candidate from Ajit Pawar’s NCP, who had shared images featuring only Sharad Pawar, claiming Ajit Pawar’s side was attempting to “piggyback” on the senior Pawar’s reputation.
In response, Senior Advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ajit Pawar, refuted these claims, calling the materials "doctored." However, Singhvi countered that the video had been posted from Mitkari’s official account.
Justice Surya Kant remarked, "Whether or not it is an old video, with Mr Pawar you have an ideological difference, and you are fighting against him. Then you should try to stand up on your own legs."
Balbir Singh assured the Court of compliance but raised concerns over AI manipulation, stating, “In the age of Artificial Intelligence, photos and videos can be manipulated using ‘deep fake’.” Justice Kant acknowledged this concern, noting, “There have been instances which are eye openers. Ultimately this AI also where it will go, we have to be very very careful.”
The Court instructed Ajit Pawar’s faction to issue an electronic circular to its office bearers and candidates, advising against the use of Sharad Pawar’s images or videos in campaign materials, stressing the need for the faction to maintain a distinct identity.
In the background of the case, a rift between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar led the Election Commission of India in 2022 to recognise Ajit Pawar's faction as the official NCP and grant it the clock symbol. This decision is under challenge in the Supreme Court by Sharad Pawar’s faction, which has been permitted to use the symbol of a "man blowing turha (trumpet)."
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We received request; will decide soon whether to support TVK: Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said that his party received a request from TVK for support and the high-level committee of his party will decide whether to support the Vijay-led party to form the government.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerged as the single largest party. Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won.
Though the Congress party, which has five MLAs, has extended support to TVK, the actor-politician-led party was still short of as many seats to touch the magic number of 118, the majority mark in the 234-member House.
"We received the request letter from TVK. We are thankful for that. We have not ignored his (Vijay's) request. We have a procedure. Therefore, our party's high-level committee will decide soon. We are going to discuss the merits and demerits of our position," the VCK leader told reporters here.
With regard to the delay in the governor's call to the TVK, which is the single largest party, to form the government, Thirumavalavan requested the governor to invite Vijay to form the government. "It is a constitutional right and people's verdict," he added.
Asserting that the governor cannot say that Vijay should hold 118 MLAs' support now itself to form the government, he said that after taking over power, Vijay has to prove an absolute majority only on the floor of the Assembly.
