The Supreme Court has ordered Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP to stop using images of Sharad Pawar in the Maharashtra elections, emphasizing the need for separate identities amid ongoing disputes between the factions.

Following a rift between the Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar factions of the NCP, the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawar's party as the real NCP based on its legislative majority and allotted the 'clock' symbol to it.

Asking both the NCP factions to focus on their side of the electoral battle, the bench, which also included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasised that voters are wise enough to see through any confusion.

The NCP led by Ajit Pawar is contesting a total of 60 seats, including friendly fights in eight seats, as per the seat sharing arrangement in Mahayuti. The NCP (SP) is contesting 86 seats, including one friendly fight,

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the frequent use of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar’s name in online content shared by the Ajit Pawar-led faction amidst ongoing campaigning in Maharashtra for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The Supreme Court instructed the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to refrain from using Sharad Pawar's images in their Maharashtra election campaign. The court urged the faction to establish its own identity and avoid capitalizing on Sharad Pawar's reputation.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan told the Ajit Pawar faction that they must fight the elections under their own identity and refrain from using Sharad Pawar’s name during the electioneering.

Supreme Court advises Maharashtra NCP to stand on own legs, not rely on Sharad Pawar's influence in elections.

Before the top court, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing the Sharad Pawar faction, claimed that junior Pawar was violating earlier SC ruling by blatantly using videos of Sharad Pawar in election campaigning.

The Supreme Court asked the Ajit Pawar faction to stand on its feet and not depend on Sharad Pawar’s name for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The Supreme Court said it had full faith in the wisdom of the voters but the order of the court to provide a level-playing field had to be respected