Uddhav Thackeray, a former chief minister of Maharashtra, informed the Election Commission today that the faction led by Eknath Shinde cannot claim the bow-and-arrow symbol because he and other MLAs in his camp “voluntarily leave the party.”
The commission had requested that Team Thackeray respond to Eknath Shinde’s claim regarding the symbol for the upcoming assembly byelection in the Andheri East segment. This is the first such election since the Thackeray government was overthrown in June.
The commission had requested that Team Thackeray respond to Eknath Shinde’s claim regarding the symbol for the upcoming assembly byelection in the Andheri East segment. This is the first such election since the Thackeray government was overthrown in June.
The bulk of the BJP’s lawmakers support Eknath Shinde, who was appointed chief minister following the Sena rebellion supported by the party, in both the assembly and parliament. Even the leaders of the Shiv Sena have been recognised as belonging to his faction.
However, Uddhav Thackeray, who is still the party’s official leader, has informed the panel that the MPs from the Shinde camp should not be counted because a disqualification petition against them is pending before the Supreme Court.
He is currently collecting affidavits of support from party members to preserve the organisation his father, Bal Thackeray, founded more than 50 years ago. The goal is to collect over 5 lakh affidavits. Bal Thackeray’s “real legacy of Hindutva,” according to Mr. Shinde as well.
Whether the anti-defection law may force Mr. Shinde and his MLAs from office is the subject of a legal dispute. They appear to have the necessary two-thirds majority of party legislators to escape disqualification.
The affidavits are used because the Election Commission also considers the support of party units.
The main goal of the Shinde faction’s claim to the insignia was to deny it to the Thackeray group and keep it on hold until a final judgement about the “true” Sena was made.
The byelection on November 3 is its primary aim, and Team Thackeray has fielded Rutuja Latke, the widow of Ramesh Latke, whose passing prompted the vote.
Team Shinde is supporting Murji Patel, a municipal corporator and candidate for the BJP, an ally.
Following Mr. Thackeray’s breakup with the BJP “over leadership issues” following the 2018 elections, the Congress and the NCP have made the decision to support the Thackeray faction’s candidate. This faction is their partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
