EC tells Thackeray and Shinde camps to prove majority

Mumbai, July 23: The Election Commission (EC) of India has asked both Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to submit documentary evidence to prove that they have the majority members in the party.

The EC has sent the Uddhav Thackeray camp the letter written to them by the Eknath Shinde faction and the Thackeray camp's letter to the Shinde faction. Both factions are to file their replies by 8th August, ANI reported.

"...It is evident that there is a split in the Shiv Sena, one group of which is being led by Eknath Shinde and the other group is being led by Uddhav Thackeray, both the groups claim to be the real Shiv Sena with their leader being the alleged president of Shiv Sena party," NDTV quoted the EC as saying in the notice to the two camps.

They said the requirement were made in line with the Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Earlier this week, the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena had written to the Commission seeking allocation of the party's 'bow and arrow' election symbol to it, citing the recognition granted to them in the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly.

The claim over the symbol assumes significance as the Supreme Court had on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to notify elections to local bodies within two weeks. Elections are due in several civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which would indicate which Sena faction gets the popular support.

The Shiv Sena split last month when more than two-thirds of the party's MLAs withdrew their support from the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray, throwing their lot with Shinde. Shinde was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister on June 30 with support of the BJP. On Tuesday last, at least 12 of the 18 Shiv Sena members in the Lok Sabha expressed 'no confidence' in floor leader Vinayak Raut and declared Rahul Shewale as their floor leader.

Lok Sabha Speaker recognised Shewale as the leader the same day. To ensure that neither faction is deprived of information, the poll panel has also directed exchange of documents submitted by the two groups over the past two days.

Earlier, the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had written to the EC, requesting it to hear its views before making any decision on representations for claims over the party name and its poll symbol.