Shiv Sena symbol row: Uddhav Thackeray's faction gets time to challenge Eknath Shinde’s claim

In another development that cast a shadow over the November 3 Andheri East Assembly by-election, the Election Commission (EC) on Friday turned down the Uddhav Thackeray faction's demand for ample time to submit its challenge to the Eknath Shinde group's claim over the party symbol, saying it had already sent the information the faction had asked for. While providing the information again later on Friday, the EC asked the Thackeray group to return latest by 2 pm on Saturday with its submission, and said in case of no reply, the commission would take appropriate action in the matter accordingly.

The EC had set a deadline of October 7 for both groups to furnish their claims with supporting documents. The deadline was set after the Supreme Court allowed the EC to conduct proceedings in the matters related to the party. The Shinde group submitted well before the deadline, asking in the interim that the misuse of the symbol ‘bow and arrow' in the Andheri poll be prevented. The Thackeray group has been preparing to contest the by-poll for which the nominations began on Friday and will end on October 14.

Complaint to the EC

However, the Thackeray group complained to EC on Friday that it had not received copies of documents in which the Shinde group had demanded that the party symbol be allotted to it. The Thackeray group submitted the first lot of documents on Friday, the last day, and sought more time to furnish its argument, particularly in the symbol case.

Also Read: Workers of Shinde, Thackeray factions face off over 'shakha' in Thane, cops give both groups keys

In response, the EC wrote a letter to Thackeray, informing that the relevant information was given on October 4. It said it was sending the information again to the petitioner asking him to come back on Saturday. The e-mail read, "Though your reply is yet to be received, considering the fact that by-election has been notified, it is directed that you may furnish your comments along with requisite documents as requested by the commission's letter dated 29.09.2022, now, latest by 2:00 pm of October 8, 2022. In case no reply is received, the commission will take appropriate action in the matter accordingly."

‘How could we respond?'

Thackeray's associate, MP Anil Desai told the media that his party had met the deadline, but till date it had not received documents from the opposite group. "How could we respond without them?" he asked and insisted that Thackeray was a duly elected president of the party. This was apparently said to counter the Shinde faction's claim that it had elected the CM as the new party head.

To prove it is the real Sena, the CM's group has claimed majority in the legislature, Parliament and party organisation. In a counter move, Thackeray's side has claimed that the ex-CM was elected as per the norms in the party's constitution and its membership strength was twice that of Shinde's.

Gulabrao Patil, minister in the Shinde cabinet, said he was quite confident of his party getting the symbol. "It has been proved through submission that we have more MLAs, MPs and office-bearers and primary members. The rest was established in our Dussehra rally which received a tremendous response from the general public as well," he said.

Many people said that the commission was most likely to decide before the by-poll nominations are over and it had the option for allotting the symbol to one of the factions or freezing it, as it has been done in similar cases, pending hearing.