Shiv Sena national executive appoints Eknath Shinde mukhya neta, invests him with ‘all powers’

Uddhav Thackeray has challenged EC decision allowing Shinde camp to retain Sena name & symbol in Supreme Court. Party office in Parliament also handed over to group led by Maharashtra CM.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis attend the Shiv Jayanti celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, at Shivneri Fort, in Pune on Sunday | ANI

Mumbai: Chief minister Eknath Shinde is also the mukhya neta, or the chief leader of Shiv Sena, the party’s national executive meeting here decided Tuesday. It said Shinde will have all the executive rights related to the party. 

The crucial decision was taken after the Election Commission of India (ECI) let the Shinde-led faction retain Shiv Sena party name and its symbol ‘bow and arrow’ Friday. 

“This meeting was held under the leadership of Eknath Shinde and we have decided that he will be our main leader and all the powers will now be with him,” said cabinet minister Uday Samant. 

“We have decided that we will take forward the ideology of Bal Thackeray and ensure that the mistake which we made (by forming an alliance with the Congress and the NCP) are not repeated,” he added. 

According to an executive proposal letter, a copy of which is with ThePrint, a three-member committee will be formed under the chairmanship of cabinet minister Dada Bhuse to take action against those working against the party. 

The executive meeting also cleared a proposal seeking Bharat Ratna for Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar. 

Earlier in the day, the Secretariat handed over the Shiv Sena office in Parliament to the Shinde camp. A day ago, the office in Maharashtra assembly was also given to the Shinde side. 

When Parliament or assembly are in session, Shinde, as the main leader, will decide when the chief whip needs to issue a whip, Rahul Shewale, MP and Shiv Sena group leader in Lok Sabha, said to ThePrint. 

“Since we are the Shiv Sena, we have the right to issue the whip going forward and everyone has to follow,” said Shewale. 

The Uddhav Thackeray camp has challenged the ECI ruling in the Supreme Court and the hearing on the same is Wednesday afternoon.  

Other decisions

The executive meeting also discussed the issue of Marathi getting the status of elite language and that sons of soil — bhumiputras, or local Maharashtrians — should be given 80 per cent jobs. 

Churchgate Railway Station in Mumbai should be named after Chintaman Rao Deshmukh Station, the meeting decided. 

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)