Uddhav Faction Of Shiv Sena Moves SC Against EC Decision Of Alloting Party Name & Symbol To Shinde Camp

After the EC allotted the party name 'Shiv Sena' and the symbol to the Shinde faction, the Uddhav Thackeray faction decided to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

File Photo of Uddhav Thackeray.

New Delhi: After the Election Commission allotted the party name "Shiv Sena" and the symbol "Bow and Arrow" to the Eknath Shinde faction, the Uddhav Thackeray camp of Shiv Sena has decided to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. Talking to the media persons, leader of the Thackeray faction Anil Desai said that Uddhav camp has decided to move to the Supreme Court against EC's decision. He also said that the case can be heard tomorrow. He called EC's decision one-sided.

"We have moved (to the Supreme Court) against EC's decision. It was mentioned before Supreme Court today and the Court will say when is it being taken up for hearing. Maybe it will be taken up tomorrow. EC's decision was one-sided," Desai said as quoted by the news agency ANI.

We have moved (to the Supreme Court) against EC's decision. It was mentioned before Supreme Court today and the Court will say when is it being taken up for hearing. Maybe it will be taken up tomorrow. EC's decision was one-sided: Anil Desai, Thackeray faction leader#ShivSena pic.twitter.com/5WtxFYHIEK

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2023

Earlier on Friday, EC allotted the party name "Shiv Sena" and the symbol "Bow and Arrow" to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Notably, both factions of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) have been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde (present Maharashtra Chief Minister) revolted against Thackeray last year.

In its order, EC observed that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been "mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all", as reported by ANI. It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence.

While the Shinde faction welcomed the decision of being recognised as the real Shiv Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray faction said they would move the Supreme Court. The Uddhav Thackeray faction accused the Election Commission of haste and said the decision shows "it works as BJP agent".

Calling the poll panel's decision as "murder of democracy", Uddhav Thackeray said he will approach the Supreme Court against the decision. Last month, both the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena submitted their written statements in support of their claims of control over the party name and symbol to the Election Commission.

The EC had frozen the bow and arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena and had allotted the 'Two Swords and Shield symbol' to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the 'flaming torch' (mashaal) election symbol was allotted to the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the bypoll in Andheri East assembly constituency in November last year.