'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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Karnataka cabinet approves formation of separate Dharwad Municipal Corporation
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a formation of separate Dharwad city corporation. Alongside, a 15% hike in fares across the four state transport corporations was also approved. The revised fares will come into effect on January 5.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, addressing the media at the Committee Hall of Vidhana Soudha, provided details about the decision. He explained that the last fare revision for BMTC was a decade ago when diesel cost Rs 60.98 per litre. Since then, operational costs have risen significantly.
Diesel expenditure for the four corporations has increased from Rs 9.16 crore to Rs 13.21 crore, and personnel costs have grown from Rs 12.85 crore to Rs 18.36 crore. The daily operational burden now stands at Rs 9.56 crore. The fare hike is expected to generate an additional Rs 74.85 crore in monthly revenue without burdening the state exchequer, as Rs 5,015 crore has already been allocated for the Shakti Yojana this fiscal year.
Minister Patil announced that the Cabinet has decided to bifurcate the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation into two independent municipal bodies.
The Cabinet approved the construction of a fishing port in Hejamady village, Udupi, with a revised estimate of Rs 209.13 crore. Additionally, Rs 84.57 crore has been sanctioned for the modernization and dredging of fishing ports.
In a move to strengthen cow shelters, Rs 10.50 crore has been allocated for projects in 14 districts. The Cabinet also approved constructing a building for Visvesvaraya Technical University in Chikkaballapur district at Rs 149.75 crore.
The Cabinet sanctioned a state-of-the-art bus stand in Bannimantap, Mysuru, at a cost of Rs 120 crore. Spread over 14 acres, the facility will include a divisional office, bus units, and commercial shops.
Approval was also granted to utilize Rs 137.85 crore, provided by the Union Finance Ministry under the Special Capital Assistance Scheme, for capital expenditure.
The Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board will use Rs 56.92 crore from its SCP/TSP scheme to supply bed sheets, mosquito nets, and clothing to government residential schools and hostels.
The Cabinet approved Rs 100 crore to construct new buildings for 200 veterinary institutions currently housed in rented or dilapidated structures, using NABARD assistance.
In Davangere, a site was allotted to the Karnataka Working Journalists' Association for constructing a civic facility. A plot in Avaragere village was also leased for 30 years at a concessional rate to Nayaka Vidyarthi Nilaya.
