Sena row SC to hear Uddhav Thackerya's plea; Shiv Sena name, symbol to remain with Shinde camp now
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court will hear Uddhav Thackeray's plea now over the Shiv Sena name and "bow and arrow" symbol, which the Election Commission granted to the Eknath Shinde faction.
The apex court Wednesday said the Shiv Sena name and its election symbol will, for now, remain with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's camp, and the "mashaal" or flaming torch symbol with Uddhav Thackeray.
However, the court agreed to hear the petition from Team Thackeray, which has challenged the EC's order handing the Shiv Sena name and its "bow and arrow" symbol to the Shinde faction.
Thackeray had sought a status quo on the Sena properties -- offices and bank accounts -- till its multiple petitions pending with the top court are decided.
Besides the name and symbol issue, the group has also challenged the numbers in the Shinde faction, contending that a chunk of its MLAs deserve disqualification.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing the Thackeray group, told a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that they want "protection".
"We don't want our properties and bank accounts to be taken over," Sibal said, pointing out that the parliamentary office of the Shiv Sena was taken over by the Shinde faction on Tuesday.
The court said it cannot put a freeze on the Election Commission's order "at this stage".
The Thackeray camp can use legal challenges if any action is taken that is not based on the Election Commission's order.
The court also got an assurance from the Shinde faction that they will not issue any whip or take over bank accounts or party office of the Sena.
