Amid legal battle, Eknath Shinde announced new chief of Shiv Sena

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is the new chief of Shiv Sena and the decision was taken at its first national executive meeting held in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

State industries minister Uday Samant made the announcement about the resolutions passed in the meeting. The announcement days after the Election Commission of India recognized the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena, and allotted it the poll symbol of the party, bow and arrow. The rival factions led by Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray are locked in legal battles over the control of the Shiv Sena.

"The meeting was chaired by chief leader of the Shiv Sena, chief minister Eknath Shinde," Samant said. It resolved to form a disciplinary committee, he added. Other resolutions included the demand of posthumous Bharat Ratna for freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Another resolution passed at the meeting demanded inclusion of Sambhaji Maharaj, Veermata Jijabai and Ahilyabai Holkar in the list of "national personalities." Samant did not specify what role Uddhav Thackeray will have in this new Shiv Sena.

The disciplinary committee would be headed by state ports development minister Dada Bhuse; excise minister Shambhuraj Desai and Sanjay More will be its other members.

"The disciplinary committee will ensure smooth functioning of the party and will take action against party leaders who act against the party lines," Samant said, without naming former party president Uddhav Thackeray and 16 MLAs who are loyal to him.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will take up Uddhav Thackeray's plea challenging the Election Commission (EC) order allotting the Shiv Sena party name and symbol to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction on Wednesday at 3.30 pm.

In its petition, the Uddhav faction has sought a stay on the EC order as interim relief. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has further accused the poll body of failing to discharge its duty as a neutral arbiter. They also alleged that the EC acted in a manner that undermines its constitutional status.

Last June, Shinde launched a rebellion against the party. Majority of MLAs sided with him, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) government led by Uddhav Thackeray. Later, Shinde was sworn in as the 20th chief minister of Maharashtra, while BJP stalwart Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the deputy CM.

With inputs from agencies