EC asks Sena factions to submit claims by August 8

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has asked the Shiv Sena factions led by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray to submit written statements on their competing claims over the party name and ‘Bow and Arrow’ election symbol by August 8 in what can trigger a scramble for pledges of support from MPs and state legislators as well as organisational functionaries.
The EC communication on Friday evening to the two factions followed the receipt of a letter from the faction led by Shinde last week, claiming to be the real ‘Shiv Sena’ and requesting use of the reserved party symbol ‘Bow and Arrow’ in all future elections. The letter pleaded the EC to recognise the Shinde faction as the real Sena and allow it the use of ‘bow and arrow’ symbol by virtue of its powers under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
EC sources on Saturday told TOI that the two factions can say whatever they have to place on record regarding the dispute. This may include submitting letters of support and affidavits from individual MLAs and MPs to corroborate their claims of majority support within the legislative wing, besides details of the support they enjoy in the organisational wings of the party.
The letter sent by the Shinde faction to the EC on Tuesday had cited five grounds in support of its claim to being the 'real' Shiv Sena.