Maharashtra CM hails Eknath Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena; Uddhav Thackeray faction opposes Election Commission's move

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his happiness after the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognized his faction as the real Shiv Sena, allowing them to use the name "Shiv Sena" and the symbol "Bow and Arrow." Shinde called it a "victory of Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology."

However, leaders from Uddhav Thackeray's faction have opposed the decision and expressed distrust in the Election Commission. Anand Dubey, the faction's spokesperson, criticized the haste in the decision, stating that it was expected and that the Election Commission is working as a BJP agent under the Central Government. Sanjay Raut, another leader from the Uddhav Thackeray faction, said that the decision was a "murder of democracy" and that they would "go to the people."

The situation between the factions of Shiv Sena has been ongoing for some time now. Earlier this week, the Election Commission ordered that the party name "Shiv Sena" and the symbol "Bow and Arrow" be given to the Eknath Shinde faction. The Uddhav Thackeray faction expressed their disagreement and said they would take the matter to the Supreme Court.

The Election Commission's decision was made due to the current undemocratic structure of the Shiv Sena party, which has been "mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all." The decision follows a previous verdict by the Commission to not allot the party symbol to either faction until they could prove that their structure was democratic.

The Shiv Sena party was formed by Balasaheb Thackeray, the father of Uddhav Thackeray, and has a significant presence in Maharashtra. The current situation has caused a split in the party, with both factions fighting for the Shiv Sena name and symbol. The Election Commission's decision may have ended the dispute, but the Uddhav Thackeray faction is continuing to oppose it and intends to take the matter to the Supreme Court.