New Delhi: In a major blow to the Uddhav Thackeray faction, the Election Commission of India on Friday ordered that the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the party’s symbol ‘bow and arrow’ Eknath Shinde will remain with the faction. The Election Commission has observed that the present constitution of Shiv Sena is undemocratic. This has worsened due to the undemocratic appointment of people from a circle as office bearers without any election, the commission said.
The Election Commission said that such a party structure cannot win the trust. The Election Commission found that the constitution of Shiv Sena as amended in 2018 has not been given to the Election Commission. The Election Commission also observed that the undemocratic norms of the Shiv Sena’s original constitution, which was not accepted by the commission in 1999, have been brought back in a clandestine manner, reducing the party to a fiefdom. Meanwhile, Arvind Sawant of the Uddhav camp said that he would go to the Supreme Court against this decision.
Eknath Shinde called the verdict a victory of Balasaheb’s ideology
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday termed the Election Commission’s decision to recognize his faction as the real Shiv Sena a victory for Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. Reacting to the commission’s decision, he said, “I thank the Election Commission. The majority is important in a democracy.” Shinde said, “This is the victory of Balasaheb’s legacy. Our Shiv Sena is genuine.” He said, “We formed the government in Maharashtra (with the Bharatiya Janata Party) last year keeping in mind the thoughts of Balasaheb.”
On this decision of the Election Commission, Shiv Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey has said, “It is clear from the decision that the Election Commission is an agent of the BJP. Right now the matter is in the Supreme Court, so how did you say in such a hurry that the symbol and name are his? The Election Commission has lost its credibility.”
On the other hand, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said about this decision, “Shiv Sena belongs to Eknath Shinde ji and his associates. It has been proved once again. This is the biggest victory of democracy. Taking forward the Hindutva legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray himself, the Shiv Sena and BJP alliance will take Maharashtra to new heights. Satyameva Jayate.”
