New Delhi:

The names and election symbols of the 2 factions of the Nationalist Congress Celebration will stay because the Election Fee determined for now, the Supreme Court docket stated at present, advising establishment forward of the approaching Lok Sabha elections. The order, although, is non permanent and the matter could be revisited after the events reply to the court docket’s order, issued whereas listening to a problem by the Sharad Pawar faction of the get together towards the ballot physique’s choice.

The chief grouse of the Sharad Pawar faction — using the clock image by the Ajit Pawar faction within the Lok Sabha election — remained unaddressed.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan stated the Ajit Pawar faction will be capable of use the clock image, however they should publish ads saying the matter is sub judice. The general public notices should be there in all election-related audio-visual ads and publicity materials like banners and posters.

The Sharad Pawar faction can use the “man blowing trumpet” image and the identify Nationalist Congress Celebration (Sharad Chandra Pawar), the court docket stated, asking the Election Fee to not reissue them to some other get together.

The undivided NCP, based by Sharad Pawar, had “clock” as its election image, which was awarded to the Ajit Pawar faction by the Election Fee final month together with the get together identify.

The Sharad Pawar faction has challenged the choice, saying in view of the excessive recall worth of the ballot image, it provides the Ajit Pawar faction an additional benefit throughout the election.  

The judges have additionally requested the Ajit Pawar camp to file its response to the Sharad Pawar group’s plea towards the order of the Election Fee recognising the previous as the true NCP. The response must be filed inside a month.