The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an interim order on Saturday, stating that neither of the two groups would be allowed to use the symbol “Bow & Arrow,” which is reserved for “Shivsena,” news agency ANI reported.
Shiv Sena’s ‘Bow & Arrow’ symbol claim | Election Commission of India passes interim order, says in Andheri East bye polls neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol “Bow & Arrow”, reserved for “Shivsena”. pic.twitter.com/QtC9iNhZ0X
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2022
Both groups will also be assigned different symbols from the list of free symbols made available by the Election Commission for the purposes of the current bye-elections. As a result, both groups are hereby directed to provide, no later than 1pm on October 10th, ANI reported.
Both groups shall also be allotted such different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the Election Commission for the purposes of the current bye-elections. Accordingly, both groups are hereby directed to furnish, latest by 1pm on 10th October.
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2022
The development comes ahead of the Maharashtra assembly bypoll in Andheri East.
The Andheri East bypoll is the first since Shinde and the BJP deposed the MVA government in June, and political analysts see it as a precursor to the resolution of Shinde and Thackeray’s claims to be the “real Shiv Sena,” PTI reported.
Shinde had raised a revolting banner against Thackeray for forming a “unnatural alliance” with the Congress and NCP.
More than 40 of the Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs backed Shinde, forcing Thackeray to resign as Maharashtra Chief Minister. Twelve of the 18 Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena also came out in support of Shinde, who later claimed to be the leader of original Shiv Sena.