Election Commission Of India Bars Uddhav & Shinde Groups From Using "Shiv Sena" Name & Symbol Till Final Decision

The Election Commission of India on Saturday passed an interim order directing that both Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray groups shall not use the name "Shiv Sena" or the symbol "bow and arrow" till the claims of the rival factions for the official recognition is finally decided.

The Commission has ordered that Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray groups shall be allotted different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols. Both the groups will be known by such names as they may choose, including, if they so desire, linkage with their parent party "Shiv Sena".

The Commission has directed both the groups to furnish by October 10 the fresh symbols they want to be allotted to their candidates in the upcoming polls.

The order has been passed while considering a petition filed by Eknath Shinde for official recognition of his faction as the official Shiv Sena under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. On September 27, a Constitution 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.

Eknath Shinde was represented by Advocates Chirag Shah, Utsav Trivedi, Himanshu Sachdeva, Manini Roy.

The operative portion of the ECI's order is as follows :