Shiv Sena’s name and symbol will remain with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp, and the “mashaal” or flaming torch symbol with Uddhav Thackeray, the Supreme Court said today, assuring the status quo of the issue that was the point of contention. since the split of the party last year.
The court has approved the petition of Team Thackeray, which has challenged the Election Commission’s order to hand over the name Shiv Sena and the “bow and arrow” symbol to the Shinde faction.
Mr Thackeray had sought status quo until the case is decided. Kapil Sibal, who represented him in court, told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that they want protection.
“We want protection. We don’t want our properties and bank accounts taken over,” Mr. Sibal said, noting that the Shiv Sena’s parliamentary office was taken over by the Shinde faction yesterday.
The court said it cannot freeze the election commission’s order “at this stage”. The Thackeray camp could use legal challenges if action is taken that is not based on the Election Commission’s order.
Team Shinde has claimed that the case has already been heard and rejected by the Supreme Court and that the Election Commission has been allowed to go ahead and make a decision.
Why would the Udhav Thackeray group go straight to the Supreme Court and why would the court intervene, they wondered.