SC questions Ajit Pawar's NCP for using Sharad Pawar photo in poll campaign

The Supreme Court questioned Ajit Pawar's NCP on Thursday for using Sharad Pawar's photograph as part of its election campaign.

The top court said that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar is now a separate party and therefore should use its own identity.

'You are a different political party now. You have chosen not to be with him. So why to use his (Sharad Pawar) picture… Go with your own identity now.' the court told Ajit Pawar's NCP.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan asked the Ajit Pawar faction to file its response by Saturday to Sharad Pawar's plea and fixed it for further hearing on March 19.

“We need a categorical and unconditional undertaking that the name, pictures of Sharad Pawar will not be used,” the bench said.

Earlier, the top court had directed that the Election Commission's order of February 7 allotting 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction will continue till further orders.

It had also sought response of the Ajit Pawar-led faction on a plea of Sharad Pawar against the February 6 order of the Election Commission recognising the Maharashtra deputy chief minister-led group as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).