In a serioౠus allegation, Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, currently known as Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray wrote a 12 point letter to the Election commission accusing it of bias in favour of Eknath Shinde.
As per the reports of NDTV, Thackeray-led faction mentioned in the letter that the EC had uploaded the choice of names and symbols in its website proposed by team Uddhav “possib🌞ly even before [Team Shinde] had submitted his own list.” As ꦜper the allegations, this gave Shinde the chance to copy from the choices submitted by the Balasaheb scion.
This development comes in the backdrop of the faction's decision to ⛦move to the Delhi High Cour𒅌t 💎seeking quashing of the October 8 🉐order of the EC freezing the party name and election symbol.
For the upcoming by-poll elections of November 3 in Andheri East, Thackeray faction is going to use ‘Mashal’ or a ‘flaming torch’ as it🎀s symbol whereas Shinde faction, now known as Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena may use the symbol of two shields and a sword. However, till now Shinde faction has not decided to fight the election as BJP is all set to fight Uddhav’s Sena in this turf.
Shinde Celebrating the New Symbol
Earlier, when both the factions was asked to submit their choice of symbols and names to the EC following its decision of not letting anybody hold the name of real Shiv Sena, Shinde’s claims for ‘Trishul', ‘Gada' (mace) and 'rising sun' as its poll symbols got rejected. EC cited the religious connotations of the symbol and 🦂instead allotted them ‘two swords and a shield'.
However, the simultaneous rejection and allocation brought happiness in Shinde camp as the new symbol has connotative connection with Chatrapati Shivaji, the undisputed leader of Marathi pride. Accepting and celebrating the decision of the EC, the newly anointed Maharashtra Chief Minister said, “Balasahebanchi Shiv Se🐽na is the Shiv Sena ജof the common man. We accept this decision of the EC.”
Bringing reference to Shivaji, he added, “We had given priority to the 'sun' symbol, but it approved swords and shield. This is the symbol of the old Shiv Sena...This is a Maharashtrian symbol. It is the symbol of Chhatr♚apati Shivaji and his mavalas (soldiers).”
The spokesperson of Shinde faction Sheetal Mhatre welcomed the new symbol as “blessing of Chhaꦗtrapati Shivaji” that will defeat the “evil powers”.
Happy but Unhappy Uddhav Faction
Interestingly, Uddhav-faction also celebrated their temporally allocated symbol ‘Mashal’ as the EC r😼ejected their claims over ‘Trishul’ citing the same religious c✨onnotation ground.
The supporters of the faction took out a march with a flamed torch (Mashal) and visited Bal Thackeray's memorial at the Shivaji Park in Dadar area to pay tribute to the founding le෴ader. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar was also present in the march.
Since the EC’s decision to not demarcate the real Shiv Sena, Uddhav faction has been fuming. Minutes after the decision of the EC, fresh salvo at Shinde and tweeted, “Kho✃kewale" traitors committed this shameless and vile act of freezin🅷g the name Shiv Sena and symbol.”
Earlier prior to the freezing of the symbol Uddhav wrote to the EC that they have 𝄹“overwhelming majority in the organisational and legislative wing of the party as well as among the cadres.” The letter also cited 14 MLAs, 12 MLCs and 7 Lok Sabha MPs to strengthen its claims.
The latest letter to the EC, the po𒆙litical observers said is a part of Uddhav-faction’s strategy to r🐬eveal a bias face of the commission ahead of the assembly by polls, the first after the split in the party in five decades, to get the empathetic support of the constituents.
