ECI gives new names for Thackeray, Shinde factions; rejects alternative party symbols proposed by Shinde camp
The Hindu
Uddhav’s faction to be known as ‘Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)‘; Shinde faction to be called ‘Balasaheb’s Shivsena’
After hours of hectic deliberation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) allotted new party names to the rival Shiv Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but rejected all proposed alternatives of the party symbol submitted by the Shinde camp while giving the mashaal (torch) symbol to the Thackeray group.
According to sources, the ECI, which has frozen the party name as well as the Shiv Sena’s bow and arrow symbol as an interim measure, has now decreed that the Uddhav Thackeray faction would be called the ‘Shivsena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) while the Shinde faction is to be known as ‘Balasaheb’s Shivsena.’
The poll body has asked the Shinde camp to submit three new party symbol alternatives by Tuesday. Shinde camp spokesperson Naresh Mhaske said they would be pondering upon fresh alternatives which will be submitted to the ECI by Tuesday morning.
Earlier in the day, the Eknath Shinde faction had submitted three alternative party names and symbols to the ECI, with one name and two of the symbols being the same as the ones being submitted by Mr. Thackeray’s group on Sunday.
The Shinde faction’s proposed alternative party names were the Shivsena (Balasaheb Thackeray), ‘Balasaheb’s Shivsena’ and the ‘Shivsena of Balasaheb’. Their three proposed symbols – which the ECI rejected - were the trishul (trident), the ‘rising sun’ and ‘the mace’.
However, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena has already proposed Shivsena (Balasaheb Thackeray) as its alternative name while suggesting ‘the trident’ and ‘rising sun’ as two of their three symbols. (their third option being the torch which they finally secured)
Nonetheless, the Thackeray camp claimed the ECI’s decision to be “a victory” of sorts with Uddhav faction leader Bhaskar Jadhav remarking that both Uddhavji and Balasaheb’s name was part of their new party name, which proved that Uddhav Thackeray was the true legatee of Bal Thackeray’s ideals.