New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut lashed out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday saying Delhi wants to destroy the 56-year-old party formed by Balasaheb Thackeray, news agency ANI reported. Raut’s remarks come in the wake of ECI asking both the factions of Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to submit documentary evidence before it by August 8 to prove they have the majority members in the party.
“It's shocking for Maharashtra's people. Balasaheb Thackeray formed the party 56 years ago, thinking about Hindutva and EC is raising questions on his organisation. Delhi wants to destroy our party. Uddhav Thackeray is the only leader of Shiv Sena today,” ANI quoted Raut as saying.
Meanwhile, exuding confidence over the majority of MLAs on their side, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “Election Commission wrote to us. We will take our stand in front of the Election Commission. We are Shiv Sena. We have 50 MLAs and in Lok Sabha, 2/3rd members are with us.”
It is to be noted that the Election Commission has asked both the rival factions of the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, to submit documents by August 8 in support of their claims on the election symbol of the political outfit.
READ | ECI Asks Uddhav, Eknath To Submit Evidence To Prove Majority Members In Shiv Sena
According to sources of the Election Commission, the two sides have been asked to submit documents, including letters of support from the legislative and organisational wings of the party, along with the written statements of the rival factions.