The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on July 31 for Uddhav Thackeray’s plea against the Election Commission’s order, which allotted the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the party’s bow and arrow symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction. This decision came after advocate Amit Anand Tiwari sought an urgent listing of the matter.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha allowed Tiwari to file a rejoinder to the reply submitted by the Shinde faction. Thackeray had previously filed an application emphasizing the urgency of the matter, citing a recent Constitution bench judgment that declared the impugned order as completely illegal.
Speaking in Amravati, Thackeray emphasized that while the Election Commission can allot an electoral symbol to a party, it does not have the authority to change the name of a party. The application seeking an urgent listing of the matter asserted that respondent No. 1 (Shinde) is illegally using the party name and symbol, particularly in light of the forthcoming elections.
The Election Commission had allotted the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the bow and arrow symbol to the group led by Eknath Shinde, who is now the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The apex court had previously declined to stay the Election Commission’s order recognizing the Shinde-led bloc as the real Shiv Sena. However, the Thackeray faction was permitted to use the name ‘Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’ and a ‘flaming torch’ symbol in the state by-elections held on February 26.
While the court had ordered the protection granted to the Thackeray faction to remain in operation, it did not grant any relief regarding the party’s assets and bank accounts. The apex court stated that it could not stay the order at that stage since the Thackeray faction had succeeded before the Election Commission.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing on July 31 will determine the outcome of Thackeray’s plea and provide further clarity on the allotment of the party name and symbol. This legal battle between the two factions of Shiv Sena continues to unfold, impacting the political landscape in Maharashtra.
Sources By Agencies
