Mumbai: Nearly eight months after Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena challenged the use of their party name and symbol by Shinde faction, Eknath Shinde’s claim on the party’s name and bow and arrow symbol has been cleared by the Election Commission. In a huge setback for Uddhav Thackeray, the Election Commission in a 78-page order said that Mr. Shinde who became chief minister after the revolt was supported by MLAs with 76 per cent of party’s winning votes in 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls.
Addressing the decision, Udhav Thackeray said that it is a ‘murder of democracy’ and he will move to Supreme Court and challenge the Election Commission’s decision. At a press conference, he called Eknath Shinde faction thieves and said ‘let the thieves enjoy for a day’. He further accussed the poll body of conniving the central government and called it a BJP slave.
Uddhav Thackeray tweeted an image from his official Twitter account.
Uddhav Thackeray added that EC’s decision was also an indication that civic polls in Mumbai and elsewhere will happen soon. The Supreme Court is the last hope to ensure democracy is alive in India, said the former chief minister.