New Delhi: Election Commission of India, in an order, granted the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the symbol ‘bow and arrow’ to the Eknath Shinde faction. CM Shinde addressed the press and said that it is a victory of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe’s ideologies. Maharashtra’s Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis congratulated CM Shinde and said that Shiv Sena walks on the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, hence CM Shinde’s Shiv Sena has become the original Shiv Sena.
CM Shinde credited the win to their MPs, MLAs and Shiv Sainiks and called it a victory of democracy. He added that they formed the government on the basis of the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. He also expressed gratitude to ECI.
This country runs on the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. We formed our Government on the basis of that Constitution. The EC order that came today is on the basis of merit. I express my gratitude to the Election Commission: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde pic.twitter.com/IiazSrLC6Y
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2023
While addressing the media, BJP leader and state’s deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that they were confident from the first day because the Election Commision has given similar orders for different parties earlier.
The Shiv Sena that walks on ideologies of Balasaheb Thackeray – CM Shinde’s Shiv Sena has become the original Shiv Sena. My greetings to him. We were confident from day 1 because if you look at EC’s earlier orders on different parties, they were similar decisions: Maha Deputy CM pic.twitter.com/0RoRhfcoYK
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2023
Uddhav faction’s senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, said that they do not worry as the public is with them. He added that the faction will go with a new symbol and raise their Shiv Sena once again.
We don’t need to worry. Public is with us. We’ll go with a new symbol&raise this Shiv Sena once again in the court of public: Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray faction, on Election Commission order that the party name “Shiv Sena”&symbol “Bow & Arrow” to be retained by Shinde faction pic.twitter.com/ijkKR6lJ5Y
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2023
On the other hand, the Uddhav faction’s spokesperson Anand Dubey said that they suspected that the order will come in Eknath Shinde’s favour and that they had been saying that they do not trust the Election Commission. He condemned the decision and said that when the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court and no final decision has been taken, ECI giving this order in ‘haste’ shows it works as a BJP agent under Centre.
The order is what we had suspected. We had been saying that we don’t trust the EC. When matter is sub-judice before SC & no final decision has been taken, this haste by EC shows it works as a BJP agent under Central Govt.We condemn this: Uddhav Thackeray faction spox, Anand Dubey https://t.co/qeV8FxcHsG pic.twitter.com/B9l3BQyI8Y
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2023
