In a huge setback to Uddhav Thackeray, the Supreme Court refused to put a stay on the Election Commission of India's order on Shiv Sena. It means, the party name 'Shiv Sena' and the bow-arrow symbol will remain with Eknath Shinde's faction.
For now, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena UBT will continue with the torch symbol.
Meanwhile, a notice has been issued by the Supreme Court in in Thackeray's plea challenging the EC's order which recognised Eknath Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena.
“The petitioner has an overwhelming majority in the Pratinidhi Sabha, which is the apex representative body, representing the wishes of the primary members and other stakeholders of the party. The Pratinidhi Sabha is the apex body recognised under Article VIII of the Party Constitution. The petitioner enjoys the support of 160 members out of approximately 200 odd members in the Pratinidhi Sabha”, Thackeray’s plea said.
Also Read: Abolish The Election Commission: Uddhav Thackeray
EC recognised the Eknath Shinde-faction as the real Shiv Sena
The Election Commission last week in a 78-page order, recognised the Eknath Shinde-faction as the real Shiv Sena. However, the poll panel allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the "flaming torch" poll symbol till the completion of the assembly bypolls in the state. The EC in its ruling noted that MLAs backing Eknath Shinde received nearly 76 per cent of votes polled in favour of 55 wining Shiv Sena candidates in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly election.
Revolt of Eknath Shinde
Last year, when the Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings) Eknath Shinde revolted against Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena split into two factions which further lead to the collapse of the MVA government. Shinde then formed a government with BJP's support and was made Maharashtra's Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Devendra Fadnavis became the deputy CM of the state. Uddhav Thackeray had to resign as Maharashtra Chief Minister when more than 40 of the Shiv Sena's 55 MLAs backed Shinde.