Election Commission seeks Uddhav's response after Shinde claims Shiv Sena symbol
The Election Commission's directive team Uddhav comes after the Shinde camp submitted a memorandum seeking allocation of Shiv Sena's bow and arrow poll symbol.
In Short
- Eknath Shinde-faction stakes claim to Shiv Sena's bow and arrow poll symbol
- Election Commission asks Uddhav Thackeray to respond by tomorrow
- Shinde has sought the party symbol ahead of the bypoll to Andheri East constituency
The Election Commission of India has asked the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena to respond by Saturday afternoon after the Eknath Shinde-faction staked their claim to the party's bow and arrow poll symbol.
In a letter, the Election Commission has asked Uddhav Thackeray to furnish comments along with requisite documents latest by 2.00 pm on October 8, Saturday.
The poll panel's directive to the Uddhav faction comes after the Shinde camp submitted a memorandum seeking allocation of Shiv Sena's symbol in view of the upcoming bypoll in the Andheri East constituency.
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The letter also stated that in case no reply is received from the Uddhav camp, the poll panel will take "appropriate action in the matter accordingly".
On September 27, the Supreme Court gave a green signal to the Election Commission to decide who commanded the "real" Shiv Sena — Eknath Shinde or Uddhav Thackeray — in Maharashtra.
The decision came as a blow to Uddhav Thackeray who had filed a petition seeking to restrain the poll panel from deciding on the claim of the Shinde-led faction over the 'real' Shiv Sena and the party symbol.
In June this year, Eknath Shinde-led revolt brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. Shinde, along with 39 other MLAs, then formed the government in the state with the support of the BJP.
Following this, the Uddhav camp had filed a petition, stating that the Shinde camp MLAs can save themselves from disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution only by merging with another political party.
However, the Shinde faction had contended the anti-defection law is not a weapon for a leader who has lost the confidence of his own party.
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