New Delhi: The advocates of both former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and incumbent Eknath Shinde factions of Shiv Sena on Monday submitted their choice of party names and symbols to the Election Commission of India, news agency ANI reported.
This comes after the commission froze Shiv Sena's 'bow and arrow' poll symbol and barred both groups led by from using the party name for the next month's Andheri (East) bypoll.
The poll body had asked them to suggest by Monday three different name choices and as many free symbols for allocation to their respective groups.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction submitted three symbols - a trident, burning torch, and rising Sun - to the Election Commission and as many alternative names for the party in view of the November 3 Andheri (East) bypoll.
The suggestions submitted by the Shinde faction are yet to be revealed.
Earlier, in a virtual address, former CM Uddhav Thackeray said his camp has submitted three names- "Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray, Shiv Sena Balasaheb Prabodhankar Thackeray, and Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray" to the EC and expects it to allot one of them.
He informed his faction has submitted to the EC three options - a rising Sun, a burning torch (mashaal), and a trident - and expects the poll body to allot one of them as the poll symbol for the byelection, news agency PTI reported.
Terming the EC's decision "unjust", Thackeray added, “I appeal to the ECI to finalise a symbol and name for my party at the earliest because we have to go to the people and face the bye-election. I was shocked by the decision of the ECI, but my confidence is not shaken and also my faith in Sena supporters”.
The bypoll to the Andheri East Assembly seat in suburban Mumbai is expected to be a straight fight between late Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke's wife Rujuta Latke and BJP's Murji Patel, a corporator in the Mumbai civic body.
Amid the tussle for the "real" Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Shinde-led faction will "succeed" when the EC takes a final decision on proprietary over the party name and election symbol.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the poll body's interim decision was taken as per its laid-down procedure.
(With Agency Inputs)