The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday passed an interim order restraining both Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde camps from using the ‘Shiv Sena’ party name and the bow and arrow symbol until the poll body decides which among the two rival factions can actually lay claim to the party name and symbol.
The restriction will apply for the upcoming bye-polls in the State
The order was passed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.
The order stated the following:
“a) Neither of the two groups led by Sh. Eknathrao Sambhaji Shinde (Petitioner) and other led by Sh. Uddhav Thackeray (Respondent) be permitted to use the name of the party “Shivsena” simplicitor;
b) Neither of the two groups shall also be permitted to use the symbol “Bow & Arrow”, reserved for “Shivsena’.”
The order added both the groups can choose names they desire in the interim including names having linkage with their parent party ‘Shivsena’.
“Both the groups shall also be allotted such different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the Election Commission for the purposes of the current bye-elections,” it further said.
The order was passed on a plea by the Shinde faction seeking decision on which is the real Shiv Sena – the Shinde camp or the Thackeray camp.
This was after the Shinde and majority of Shiv Sena MLAs had withdrawn support to then Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray leading to the fall of the Thackeray government.