Uddhav Thackeray demands mid-term polls in Maharashtra, says 'bow and arrow' will remain his party's symbol

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday demanded mid-term polls in Maharashtra and asserted that 'bow and arrow' will remain his party's poll symbol.
Uddhav was forced to quit as chief minister last month after senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde rebelled against him along with 40 party MLAs. Shinde later joined hands with the BJP to replace Uddhav as chief minister and comfortably won the trust vote in the state assembly.
"We are ready to face elections. They should also be willing to face the polls and be re-elected," Uddhav said challenging the rebels who toppled his Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
After losing his government, Uddhav is now fighting to keep control over the party which was founded by his father Bala Saheb Thackeray.
The rebel faction, which has majority of party MLAs, has claimed that they are the real Shiv Sena.
The Uddhav faction faces a tough challenge in retaining hold over the party as in the last few days several corporators have also switched loyalties and have come out in support of Eknath Shinde.
Assuring the Shiv Sainiks about his control over the party, Uddhav said: "The legislature party and the original party are two different entities and there should be no confusion over the symbol."
"If we look at it legally, no one can take away the symbol. I have also told this to my Shiv Sainiks. So don't worry about it," he said.
"I told Shiv Sainiks that people don't just see symbols on the ballot, but also the person (contesting poll). However, this doesn't mean that we have to think about another symbol and I am saying this after speaking to constitutional experts," he said.
SC to hear fresh plea against appointment of Eknath Shinde as Maha CM
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on July 11 a fresh plea of the Uddhav Thackeray led faction challenging appointment of Eknath Shinde as chief minister of Maharashtra.
A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari said it will be listed before an appropriate bench on July 11.
Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai, said they are seeking listing of the fresh plea along with other pending petitions which are coming up for hearing on July 11.
Desai has challenged the Governor's June 30 decision to invite a coalition of the Shinde faction and the BJP to form government in Maharashtra.
The Thackeray led faction has also challenged the validity of assembly proceedings held on July 3 and July 4 in which a new speaker of the House was elected and subsequent proceedings of floor test in which the Shinde led coalition had proved its majority.
Earlier also several petitions have been filed by the Thackeray led faction on various issues related to the Maharashtra political crisis, which are coming up for hearing on July 11.
"I trust the judiciary, but the case result will show how long the future of democracy will remain intact," Uddhav Thackeray said as he waits for the all-important top court verdict.