The Election Commission of India on Friday ordered that the party name โShiv Senaโ and symbol โbow and arrowโ will be retained by the CM Eknath Shinde-led faction. It also ordered the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena to retain the interim party name Shiv Sena UBT and the poll symbol flaming torch.
Minutes after the announcement Uddhav Thackeray called for a Press Conference and said: โThe Shiv Sena will take its fight in SC,โ Thackeray said.
โThe decision by the EC is unexpected. We had been fighting this out in the SC for the last six months. I had earlier said that until the SC decision is not announced the EC should not announce its verdict. If a decision on whom a party belong to is taken purely on the basis of the total number of elected representatives from that party then tomorrow any moneybag can buy MLAs and take over control of the party and even become the Prime Minister of the countryโ, Uddhav Thackeray said during his press conference.
Slamming the ECI the Shiv Sena leader said: โIn a blistering attack on the Election Commission, Uddhav Thackeray said, โSays if your decision was preconceived and prejudiced, why did you seek written signed documents of our office bearers and several lakh workers. It is a complete forgery. The ECI has lost its credibility completely.โ
He also called Shinde camp thugs: โWho may have stolen our name and symbol but it will not be able to retain and digest it.โ
โIt is not so easy to finish Shiv Sena,โ he said. Attacking PM Modi Thackeray said: โLet the PM announce that dictatorship has started officially and democracy is over in India,โ said Uddhav Thackeray
โFor time being they may have robbed the bow and arrow symbol. Taken away the Sena Sena name. But that will not make a difference,โ Thackeray added.
โThe Mashal (flaming torch) which was given to us has already been lit. Now, people of Maharashtra will teach those who betrayed us a lesson,โ the former Maharashtra CM said,
โThose in power have misused it to serve their own politics. They have undermined autonomous institutions. Well, we have nothing to complain about. We will take our battle in the peopleโs court. Thackeray said.
โThe Shiv Sena will take its fight in SC,โ Thackeray said. He also calls Shinde camp thugs. Who may have stolen our name and symbol but it will not be able to retain and digest it.โ
Calling for the mediaโs support Thackeray said: โThe entire opposition, various organisations and citizens who believe in democracy should unite in this fight against power,โ says Uddhav Thackeray.โLook at the raids against BBC. I urge media to also unite in the fight against injustice,โ he said.
โJust like SC judges are appointed in consultation, I believe it is now time that even the Election Commissioners should now be appointed after consultation with opposition parties,โ said Uddhav Thackeray.
Expressing confidence Thackeray said: โOur sainiks are not demoralized at all. We will fight them with renewed aggression across state,โ Uddhav Thackeray said.
โThe way the EC has awarded the party symbol and the party name to the other side I believe this could be the precursor to the Corporation elections which could be held in a month or two. They want to take control of Mumbai. They want to put a begging bowl in Mumbaiโs hand and make it geniculate stand in front of Delhi. They want to do this by awarding the bow and arrow symbol to our opponents,โ Thackery said.
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