Shiv Sena Leader Claims "Rs 2000 Crore Deal" Behind Allotment of Party Symbol, Name by EC
Sanjay Raut, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party, alleged on Sunday that a Rs 2000 crore deal has been made to purchase the party's name and 'bow and arrow' symbol, which the Election Commission (EC) recently allocated to the Eknath Shinde-led faction. Raut, in a tweet, stated that this was a preliminary figure and that he had proof to back up his claim, which he would reveal soon. He further added that he received the information from a builder who is closely associated with the ruling dispensation. However, Sada Sarvankar, an MLA from the Eknath Shinde-led faction, dismissed Raut's claims and asked whether he was a cashier.
The EC recognized the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the authentic Shiv Sena and allotted the 'bow and arrow' symbol to it in a 78-page order on the prolonged power struggle for control of the party. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction was permitted to keep the "flaming torch" poll symbol allocated to it until the conclusion of the Assembly bypolls in the state.
Raut claimed that a significant amount of money had been used to obtain the party name and symbol and that Rs 2,000 crore was a substantial sum. His comments come amid a power tussle between the two factions of the party.