Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena Faction Gets ‘Two Swords & Shield’ As Party Symbol

Mumbai: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday assigned electoral symbol–two swords and a shield to the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The Commission has already allotted the name “Balasahebanchi ShivSena” for his group for the upcoming by-election in Andheri (East).

“It resembles an erstwhile reserved symbol ‘Do Talwarein aur Ek Dhal (Two Swords & Shield)’ of ‘People’s Democratic Movement’ which was derecognised as a state party in 2004… On receipt of your request dated 11.10.2022, the Commission has decided to declare ‘Do Talwarein aur Ek Dhal (Two Swords & Shield)’ to be a free symbol and allots it… till the final order is passed in the Dispute,” read the notification from the Election Commission.

The two factions of Sena — led by Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray — are being allotted new names and symbols as an interim measure as the Commission takes a call on the “real Sena” question.

Shinde’s faction has laid claim to the party’s “bow and arrow” election symbol along with the legacy of founder Balasaheb Thackeray. The group is not participating in the coming bye-polls. A BJP candidate will be representing the ruling alliance.

But the Shinde faction has demanded that the Uddhav Thackeray group not be allowed to use the “bow and arrow” symbol as the Commission, which put the “bow and arrow” symbol on freeze, then decided on allotting new names and symbols as a provisional measure.