Shiv Sena symbol fight: Supreme Court agrees to hear Uddhav camp's plea over EC ruling in Shinde's favour

The Supreme Court on 21 February 2023 agreed to hear a petition filed by the Uddhav Thackeray faction over the Shiv Sena symbol tussle. The top court will hear the petition on 22 February.

The Thackeray faction has challenged the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde camp as the real Shiv Sena. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Thackeray faction, mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Krishna Murari and P S Narasimha on Tuesday.

“If the EC order is not stayed then they will take over the symbol and the bank accounts. Please list it tomorrow before the Constitution bench,” Sibal submitted.

The top court said it needs to go through the case files and posted the matter for hearing at 3:30 pm on Wednesday The Election Commission on Friday had recognised the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered the allocation of the "bow and arrow" poll symbol to it. In a 78-page order on the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the Commission allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the "flaming torch" poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly by-polls in the state.

(With PTI inputs)