New Delhi: Days after the Election Commission of India (ECI) allotted new party symbols and names to both the Shiv Sena factions led by Udhhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shindethe Thackeray faction wrote a letter to the poll body on Thursday, raising objections to the recent decisions and accused the ECI of bias, news agency ANI reported.
Alleging the election panel of ‘bias and favouritism’, the Thackeray-led faction wrote, “Several communications & actions of ECI have given rise to a serious apprehension of bias in the mind of the respondent (Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray).”
The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena wrote the letter to the Election Commission through its lawyer Vivek Singh.
Notably, the ECI had allotted ‘two swords and shield’ as the election symbol and “BalasahebAanchi Shiv Sena” name to the Shinde faction, and ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal) symbol and “Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray” name to the Thackeray faction.
It is to be noted that the allocation of election symbols came after the Election Commission had frozen the Shiv Sena poll symbol ahead of the key bypolls in Mumbai’s Andheri.
In an interim order passed last Saturday, ECI stated that neither of the two groups would be allowed to use the symbol “Bow & Arrow,” which is reserved for “Shivsena”.
Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction moved the Delhi High Court on Monday seeking quashing of the Election Commission’s order freezing the party’s name and election symbol.
In the petition, Thackeray said the EC’s order was passed in complete violation of principles of natural justice and without granting any hearing to the parties.
The Sena had split into two camps after Shinde, along with 40 other party MLAs, rebelled against Thackeray’s leadership. Following Thackeray’s resignation as chief minister of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition, Shinde became CM with the support of the BJP.