The struggle between Eknath Shinde faction and Uddhav Thackeray in Shiv Sena will be decided by the Supreme Court on September 27. The hearing on Wednesday has been deferred by the Constitutional Bench for September 27. The Court has been requested to prevent the Election Commission to take any decision on the party’s symbol – Bow and Arrow.
The struggle has lasted for over two months, after about 40 legislators from Thackeray-led Shiv Sena defected under the leadership of Eknath Shinde on June 20. Shinde’s counsel Neeraj Kaul pleaded for decision on the party symbol by the Election Commission. However, the court rejected the argument and directed the Election Commission not to take any decision till the court decided on the issue.
Shinde supporters are also facing the issue of disqualification as MLAs. Thackeray’s counsel Kapil Sibbal has claimed that the Shinde faction cannot claim right on the party’s symbol. The Central Election Commission Counsel Arvind Datar stated that any member of the party cannot be deprived of claim to leadership or party symbol. The issue for further argument has been deferred to September 27.
