Shiv Sena name-symbol tussle hearing in Supreme Court: Key developments

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court hearing on Uddhav Thackeray's challenge to the Election Commission decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde faction as the 'real Shiv Sena.' is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
The two factions have been at loggerheads since Shinde broke away with a majority of Sena MLAs, and with support from BJP formed the government in Maharashtra, dislodging Uddhav Thackeray as CM.
Thackeray had called the EC decision a "theft" and "murder of democracy," and petitioned the apex court for a stay on the EC decision.
Here are the key developments in the Shiv Sena "name and symbol" tussle so far:
Shiv Sena national executive vests Eknath Shinde with more powers
Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde, at a meeting of its national executive on Tuesday, decided that all decision-making powers would be vested with Shinde, who is the party’s chief leader.
A disciplinary committee has been formed to tackle cases of anti-party activities and to ensure party members and workers follow a code of conduct. However, no decision was taken on appointing a new president of the party, a post held by Uddhav Thackeray till January this year, when his term ended.
Shinde said the party would not stake claim to anyone’s property or funds, a statement seen as important in view of speculation about what would happen to the party’s properties and bank accounts in view of Thackeray faction losing control of the party name and symbol.
This was the first national executive meet held after EC recognised the Shinde team as the real Shiv Sena.
In pics: The Sena name-symbol battle so far
Uddhav Thackeray faction moves SC
The Thackeray faction sought an urgent stay on the EC decision on the Shiv Sena name-symbol.
Its counsel argued that the "other side" has taken over the party's office in the Maharashtra assembly and Parliament, and could also take over the bank accounts.
However the court scheduled the matter for hearing on Wednesday at 3:30pm.
The Eknath Shinde camp had anticipated a legal challenge from Uddhav Thackeray to the EC decision vis-à-vis the Shiv Sena name and symbol.
It approached the Supreme Court with a caveat, to prevent any ex-parte order by the court.
After the favourable EC order, it took possession of Shiv Sena’s legislature party office in the state assembly in Mumbai.
On Tuesday, they also took possession of room number 128, the party’s parliamentary office in the Parliament complex.
Responding to a letter written by Shinde faction’s floor leader Rahul Shewalae on February 18, the Lok Sabha secretariat said the designated room for the Sena office in Parliament complex has been allotted to the party.
Of the 19 Lok Sabha MPs, 13 had switched to the camp led by Shinde.
EC recognises Eknath Shinde faction as "real' Shiv Sena
The Election Commission last week recognised the faction led by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde as the 'real' Shiv Sena, and allocated the party's "bow and arrow" symbol to it.
The EC said it looked at the support the two groups enjoyed among MPs, MLAs also total votes garnered by them in the last state elections to arrive at its decision.