Supreme Court to Hear Uddhav Thackeray’s Plea Challenging EC’s Recognition of Shinde Faction

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on November 12 on a plea challenging the Election Commission’s recognition of the Eknath Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena and its allotment of the traditional bow and arrow symbol.

The senior counsel representing the petitioner emphasised the urgency of the matter in view of the upcoming local elections in January. 

Meanwhile, the faction is permitted to continue using the name “Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)” and the flaming torch symbol during the case’s pendency.

The petition contends that the EC’s February 2023 order disregarded the actual test of the majority within the party’s organisational structure.

[Uddhav Thackeray v Eknathrao Sambhaji Shinde & Anr., SLP (Civil) No. 3997/2023.]