INDIA. Mumbai: In a relatively soothing relief, the Election Commission of India (EC) allotted the new title-Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the flaming torch symbol to the faction led by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday evening.
The breakaway faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been asked to submit a new list of symbols.
After EC froze the title Shiv Sena and the symbol Bow and Arrow in an interim order on Saturday, the Thackeray faction filed the petition in the Delhi High court challenging the EC’s decision and demanded that it be allotted the symbol of its choice instead of free characters offered by the EC.
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant welcomed the EC’s decision and said that it was best choice in the present circumstances.
Thackeray had also slammed the Shinde faction along with the BJP while terming the poll panel’s order as an “injustice” towards him and the party. In a virtual address to the Sena cadre and people of Maharashtra on Sunday, Uddhav called the Shinde faction a 40-headed Ravana who took away Lord Rama’s “bow and arrow,” which was also dear to late Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
The EC denied Trishul and Gada (mace) as poll symbols to rival Shiv Sena factions, citing religious connotations.
The Shiv Sena has fielded Rutuja Latke, the spouse of the late Ramesh Lake, for the Andheri by-poll slated to be held on November 3. Whereas the BJP has fielded a former corporator, Murji Patel.
The spokesperson for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction Deepak Kesarkar said that the BJP may have announced a candidate for the Andheri East bypoll. Still, the final name will only appear once the alliance is confirmed. “It (candidate’s name) will be announced only when Fadnavis, Shinde, and BJP state president hold a press conference. No decision has yet been taken,” Kesarkar said.
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant welcomed the EC’s decision and said it was the best choice in the present circumstances.
Also Read: SC Allows EC to Decide Plea by Eknath Shinde Faction for Real Shiv Sena Tag
