SC agreeing to hear Uddhav Thackeray’s poll symbol plea in August brings hope to Sena

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s plea challenging an Election Commission decision about the party’s election symbol in August.

It may be recalled that the Election Commission had recognised the party led by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as the official Shiv Sena and allotted the bow and arrow symbol of the undivided Shiv Sena to the Shinde-led party.

Advertisement

The Supreme Court agreeing to hear Uddhav Thackeray’s plea in August has brought some hope to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, which will contest the soon to be announced municipal elections against the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

Uddhav Thackeray had originally requested the Supreme Court to give a temporary (interim) decision so that it does not suffer any losses in the local civic body and municipal corporation elections which are approaching, but the court indicated that it might pass a verdict.

Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “If the verdict comes in August, it will definitely be timely. Our last hope is the Supreme Court, where justice will be served in this theft case. Our symbol has been stolen. Perhaps the Election Commission has the right to give an election symbol, but it does not have the right to change the name of the party. That is definitely not the right of the Election Commission”.

Earlier on Monday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard a plea filed by Uddhav Thackeray seeking some interim relief in the wake of the impending local body and municipal elections to be announced in Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court stated that it will hear and decide the main case itself instead of merely giving interim relief. “The only solution is we decide the main case. Somewhere in August, we will adjust it. We will notify the date in the evening. We will give the exact date of listing of the matter later, as we don’t want to clash with other cases,” Justice Kant said.

Appearing for Uddhav Thackeray, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal requested expeditious disposal of the case in view of the local civic body and municipal polls expected to be announced in Maharashtra.

Significantly, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had requested the Supreme Court to allow him to re-use the name ‘Shiv Sena’, the undivided party’s original election symbol ‘Dhanushyabaan’ (bow and arrow) as well as the saffron flag with the tiger on it, during the municipal elections in Maharashtra.

Uddhav Thackeray had sought an early hearing on the matter before the vacation bench of the Supreme Court on July 2. He said that the Eknath Shinde group should be prevented from using these symbols, because these are identities of the original undivided Shiv Sena and the public is emotionally attached to them.

In February 2023, the Election Commission had given the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and its election symbol to the Shinde-led party and it was this decision which Uddhav Thackeray challenged in the Supreme Court.