Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed on Friday that no one can take away his party's 'bow and arrow' insignia, in response to the dissident Sena faction's allegation that it was the true claimant of the symbol, news agency PTI reported.


Addressing reporters at his 'Matoshree' mansion in suburban Bandra, he also dared party rebels and the BJP to face mid-term elections in Maharashtra, claiming that people should be allowed to vote on the overthrow of his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration. He stated that if people do not vote for his party in the elections, he will accept it.


Thackeray stated that the Supreme Court's decision on the disqualification petitions of 16 rebel MLAs, which is slated on July 11, will determine not just the destiny of the Shiv Sena, but also the future of Indian democracy.


Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, currently the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, hoisted a revolt flag against the party leadership last month, causing the MVA government of Sena, NCP, and Congress to crumble.


On June 29, a day after Thackeray resigned as state chief minister, Shinde took the oath of office, with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis swearing in as his deputy. Shinde has the backing of 40 Sena dissident MLAs.


Toughening his stance against the rebels, Thackeray wondered how they could claim to love the 'Matoshree' and Thackerays if the dissidents support people who had attacked him and his family and even sought to "destroy his sons' life."


"According to the law, no one can take away the bow and arrow symbol from Shiv Sena. I am saying this after talking to constitutional experts," he was quoted by PTI in its report. 


On Wednesday, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil claimed that the section lead by Shinde was the true claimant of the party's 'bow and arrow' election emblem.


To ease his party workers' fears, Thackeray stated that people vote not just for the party emblem, but also for the person and if the candidate belongs to the Shiv Sena.


The Shiv Sena as a political party and the parliamentary party are two distinct identities, he said, adding that the party does not cease to exist if only one, 50, or even 100 MLAs resign.


"Confusion is being created. Legislature party and registered party are two different identities. No one can take along the party workers with them," Thackeray said.


He also advocated for mid-term elections in Maharashtra, claiming that people should be able to vote on whether the MVA administration led by him should be deposed.


 "There should be mid-term polls. If we have made a mistake, people will not favour us and that will be acceptable to us," he said.


Sena leader Sanjay Raut predicted earlier this week that if mid-term elections are called in the state, his party will win more than 100 seats.


On Thursday, the rebel faction's spokesperson stated that if reconciliation with the parent party was possible, Thackeray should also speak with the BJP, as the dissidents have joined with that party.


Thackeray slammed the dissident group for remaining silent as the BJP attacked and "abused" him and his family over the previous two and a half years.


(With Inputs From PTI)