Maharashtra elections 2024: Sharad Pawar moves Supreme Court over use of ‘clock’ symbol by nephew Ajit Pawar’s party

Sharad Pawar has filed a fresh plea in the Supreme Court, seeking to prevent Ajit Pawar from using the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) iconic “Clock” symbol in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.

In his plea, Sharad Pawar argues that Ajit Pawar should apply for a new election symbol to avoid confusion among voters. The petition emphasises the importance of maintaining fairness and clarity during the electoral process.

Sharad Pawar, who was temporarily granted the “Man Blowing a Turha” symbol by the Election Commission of India, underscored the 25-year association between the NCP and the “Clock” symbol, particularly under his leadership as the party’s National President. The plea asserts that allowing Ajit Pawar to use the symbol could mislead voters and disrupt the fairness of the elections.

The petition also references voter confusion observed during the recent parliamentary elections, suggesting that the issue could be even more pronounced in the upcoming assembly polls due to the smaller size of constituencies.

“To ensure a fair contest and prevent any bad-faith actors from exploiting voter confusion, Ajit Pawar must be required to select a different symbol,” the plea stated.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case on October 15.