Mumbai: The Election Commission of India has issued an order giving the Shiv Sena party name and its bow and arrow symbol to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s team. The Election Commission has said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction has majority support. At the same time, the Election Commission has announced that Uddhav Thackeray’s team can also keep the name Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.
Eknath Shinde’s side is expressing happiness over this order. Eknath Shinde visited Paul Thackeray memorial and paid his respects. Talking to the media, he said, “All this has happened with the blessings of Balasaheb Thackeray. We formed the government with his blessings and we are carrying forward his ideology. That’s why we welcome this order of the Election Commission.”
At the same time, Uddhav Thackeray has strongly criticized the Election Commission’s order. In an interview, he said, “Shinde’s side has stolen the Shiv Sena symbol. We will continue to fight and will not lose hope. For now, let Shinde be happy with his theft. Shinde is always a traitor.
This decision of Election Commission is dangerous for democracy. A massacre of democracy. Now the Prime Minister must declare democracy dead from the Red Fort. We have a real bow and arrow. They (Shinde’s team) keep it only on paper,” he fumed.
Earlier, on November 28, 2019, Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress formed a coalition government in Maharashtra. After about two-and-a-half years in power, senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde raised the flag of war against the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Following this, the then Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Narahari Jirwal, issued a notice to disqualify 16 disgruntled MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, under the Anti-Defection Act. Meanwhile, Shinde’s side issued a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narahari Jirwal.
After various twists and turns, the Uddhav Thackeray government was overthrown in Maharashtra and the BJP coalition government led by Eknath Shinde took office on June 30, 2022. Since then, Uddhav Thackeray and Ekanth Shinde have been working in two factions. Both parties approached the Election Commission of India claiming rights over the party’s name and symbol, after eight months of delay, the Election Commission has awarded the symbol and the party to Shinde’s side.
