NEW DELHI: The final written submissions in the Shiv Sena symbol dispute were made by the two rival factions — one headed by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and the other by his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray — before the Election Commission on Monday, putting an end to hearing of arguments in the case. This has paved the way for EC to pronounce its judgement on which of the two factions is the “real” Shiv Sena.
There is no clarity yet on the timing of the EC decision in the case that relates to the dispute between the two rival factions over the use of ‘Shiv Sena’ name and its reserved symbol ‘bow and arrow’.
As of now the two factions are using separate party names and symbols allotted to them after the EC ‘froze’ the Shiv Sena name and party symbol until the dispute was decided by it.
The two factions gave their final written submissions on Monday, after conclusion of the oral arguments, EC sources confirmed to TOI. A judgement will be pronounced by EC in due course after carefully weighing all aspects, they added.
The EC decision in the Sena symbol dispute is keenly awaited ahead of the ensuing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. While it is not clear when the EC will pronounce its verdict, the bypoll process for two Maharashtra assembly seats – Kasba Peth and Chinchwad – is already underway. The polling in the two constituencies — to which EC had announced bypoll on January 18 — is scheduled to be held on February 27.