"Eknath Shinde Quit Army, Cannot Claim Bow And Arrow": Team Thackeray To Poll Panel On Symbol

 "Eknath Shinde Quit Army, Cannot Claim Bow And Arrow": Team Thackeray To Poll Panel On Symbol

The Election Commission had asked Team Thackeray to respond to Eknath Shinde's claim for assembly bypolls in Andheri East region.

New Delhi/Mumbai:

In a fight for the Shiv Sena - party name, symbol and all - former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today told the Election Commission that the Eknath Shinde-led faction cannot claim the bow-and-arrow symbol as he and other MLAs belong to his camp. had "voluntarily left the party".

The Election Commission had asked Team Thackeray to respond to Eknath Shinde's claim on the symbol for the upcoming assembly bypolls in Andheri East region, the first such contest after the Thackeray government was voted out of power in June.

Eknath Shinde, who became chief minister after the revolt of Shiv Sena backed by the BJP, has the majority of the party's MLAs in the assembly and parliament. His faction has also been successful in getting its members recognized as Shiv Sena leaders.

But Uddhav Thackeray, who technically remains the party chief, is now collecting affidavits of support from party members - the target is more than 5 lakh - to sustain the party his father Bal Thackeray founded 50 years ago. was. Mr. Shinde claims Bal Thackeray's "true legacy of Hindutva".

A court battle is over whether the anti-defection law can oust Mr. Shinde and his MLAs. On the other hand, he has two-thirds strength among party MLAs to avoid disqualification.

But the Election Commission also looks at the support of party units and members – hence, the affidavits.

The Shinde faction's claim on the emblem was primarily seen as an attempt to negate the Thackeray group, and was thus put on hold until a final decision on the "real" army was made.

Its immediate target is a by-election on November 3, for which Team Thackeray has fielded Rutuja Latke, the widow of Ramesh Latke, whose death led to the election.

Team Shinde is backing ally BJP candidate Murji Patel, who is a corporator.

The Congress and the NCP have decided to support the candidate of the Thackeray faction, his partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which came into existence after the 2018 elections after Mr Thackeray broke with the BJP "over leadership issues".