New Delhi: Maharashtra stalwart Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena – founded 19 June 1966 – ceased to exist for the time being on Monday as the Election Commission allotted the two squabbling party factions different versions of the original nomenclature.
With the two groups – one led by his son Uddhav Thackeray and the other by rebel Eknath Shinde – laying claim on the Shiv Sena and its “bow and arrow” symbol, the poll body in an interim order Saturday asked the duo to choose alternate names and symbols instead.
On Monday, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction got the new name “Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray” and the “mashaal” or flaming torch as the symbol.
The Eknath Shinde group was given the name “Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena” but its demand for a “trishul” or “gada (mace)” as a symbol was turned down due to their religious connotations. They have been asked to choose a fresh symbol.
Uddhav loyalist Bhaskar Jadhav said: “We are happy and consider this a major victory.”
Earlier in the day, both factions had formally submitted to the Election Commission their choice of three symbols and names each after the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol was frozen by the poll panel.
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