Ajit has 36 hrs for clock 'disclaimer'

In a hearing over the disputed "clock" election symbol, the Supreme Court on Wednesday advised both factions of the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, to focus on voter engagement rather than legal battles.

The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan, recommended that the Ajit-led faction publish a disclaimer in prominent newspapers, including Marathi dailies, clarifying that the symbol's allocation remains under judicial review. The disclaimer must appear within 36 hours.

Senior advocate Balbir Singh, representing Ajit Pawar, argued that Sharad's faction aimed to obstruct the election by contesting the symbol's use. Conversely, Sharad's counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, emphasized that the "clock" has symbolized Sharad Pawar for three decades and accused the Ajit faction of misuse. Singhvi further pointed out that prior court orders requiring disclaimers on all promotional materials were allegedly disregarded.