Shiv Sena symbol row: Uddhav's faction moves SC against EC decision
The Uddhav Thackeray faction on Monday (February 20) approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Election Commission recognising the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordering the allocation of the “bow and arrow” poll symbol to it.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for an early listing of the Thackeray-led Sena faction’s petition.
The CJI, however, refused to pass any order.
“The rule applies equally to all, whether left, right or centre. Come tomorrow through proper process,” the bench said.
The Election Commission on Friday (February 17) had recognized the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered the allocation of the “bow and arrow” poll symbol to it.
In a 78-page order on the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the Commission allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the “flaming torch” poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly by-polls in the state.
Also read: AAP slams EC ruling on Shiv Sena factions, calls it extension of BJPs Operation Lotus
The Commission said MLAs backing Shinde got nearly 76 per cent of votes polled in favour of the 55 winning Shiv Sena candidates in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls.
The Uddhav Thackeray faction’s MLAs got 23.5 per cent of votes polled in favour of the winning Shiv Sena candidates, the three-member Commission said.
(With agency inputs)
