SC to Hear Plea of Uddhav Faction for Stay on EC Decision to Recognise Shinde Faction as Real Shiv Sena

New Delhi: With an aim to hold control over the Shiv Sena symbol and funds, the Uddhav Thackeray faction on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court to stay the Election Commission’s order to recognize the Eknath Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted the plea on behalf of the Uddhav Thackeray faction before a SC Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud for urgent listing.

The SC bench turned down Sibal’s request to take it up today itself, saying “We haven’t read it yet.”

“We will take it up tomorrow at 3.30 pm,” the CJI said.

“If it’s not stayed, they (Eknath Shinde faction) will take over everything…bank accounts etc.,” Sibal told the Bench. Sibal requested the Bench to take it up on Wednesday morning. The Constitution Bench is also dealing with issues arising out of the recent political crisis in Maharashtra.

“We won’t disrupt the CB (Constitution Bench) because there are three judges waiting for us. We will finish the CB and get up a little early and then take it up tomorrow,” the CJI said.

The Election Commission on Friday recognized Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered the allocation of the ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol to it. The Commission allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to use the ‘flaming torch’ poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly by-polls in the state.