SC to Hear on July 31st Uddhav Thackeray's Plea Against ECI Order on Shiv Sena Name, Symbol

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 31, Uddhav Thackeray's plea against the Election Commission's order allotting party name ''Shiv Sena'' and symbol ''Bow and Arrow'' to the Eknath Shinde led faction.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said the matter is listed for hearing after advocate Amit Anand Tiwari sought urgent listing of the plea. ''It is listed on July 31, we will hear it on that day'', the bench said and allowed Tiwari to file rejoinder on the reply filed by Shinde faction.

The top court had sought response of Shinde on February 22.

In his application, Thackeray had said the matter requires an urgent hearing as the impugned order is completely illegal in view of the recent Constitution bench judgment of the top court pronounced on May 11. ''Further, elections are imminent, and respondent No. 1 (Shinde) is illegally using the party name and symbol'', the application seeking urgent listing of the matter said.

It pointed out that on February 22, while issuing notice in the matter, the top court had directed it to be listed after three weeks. However, it did not get listed.

On February 17, the Election Commission allotted the name ''Shiv Sena'' and its poll symbol ''bow and arrow'' to the group led by now Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The EC allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to retain the name Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the 'flaming torch' poll symbol, given to it in an interim order last year.

After the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Uddhav Thackeray broke ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government with the help of the NCP and Congress. In June last year, Shinde broke ranks with Thackeray and formed government in alliance with the BJP.

EC doesn't Have Powers to Change Party's Name, says Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said the Election Commission (EC) can allot an electoral symbol to a party, but it does not have powers to change the name of a party.

Speaking to reporters in Amaravati district during a tour of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, the former state chief minister also said the name 'Shiv Sena' was given by his grandfather (Keshav Thackeray) and he will not let anyone ''steal'' it.

Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said, "The Election Commission has no powers to change the name of a party. It can allot an electoral symbol to a party." "The name Shiv Sena was given by my grandfather, how can the EC change the name? I will not allow anyone to steal the name of the party," he said. To a question on some opposition parties trying to come together to take on the BJP-led central government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due next year, he said, "I will not call it as the unity of the opposition parties, but we all are patriots and we are doing it for the sake of democracy.'' It is the unity of the people who love their country, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader added.