Sarthak Umang
Published on: 14 November 2022 at 21:27 IST
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray argued that the order passed by the Election Commission of India freezing Shiv Sena party’s name and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol is ‘illegal’, which is affecting party indirectly by making “political activities of the party standstill’’.
Bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula heard the plea of Thackeray against ECI’s order of October 8 directing both his and Eknath Shinde’s faction of Shiv Sena to not use the name “Shiv Sena” or symbol “bow and arrow” till their rival claims for the official recognition is finally decided.
As for now for the recent Andheri East bypoll, the ECI has allotted both Thackeray and Eknath Shinde’s parties different symbols.
The plea, submitted by Advocates Vivek Singh, Devyani Gupta and Tanvi Anand, challenges the ECI order as it was approved in complete violation of principles of natural justice. The plea also adds that the ECI failed to consider the fact that from July 19 to October 8, there had been which circumstances had not changed with regard to the claim made by the two groups against majority and party control.
Justice Narula hereby, stated that the rights and arguments from the Thackeray side is still holds ground as ECI is yet to give its final decision over the issue and had only restrained the party for the purpose of bye-elections which are now over.
The Court listed the matter again for tomorrow hearing, and sought short written submissions from both of the parties.
The idea of a symbol reflects the ideologies, ethics and principles of a political party, in this case the Shiv Sena political party, on September 27 a Bench of the Supreme Court had rejected a plea made by the Uddhav group seeking a stay of the proceedings before the ECI initiated by Shinde.