Page 6 - The Indian EYE 022423

NATION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 6

BATTLE OF SYMBOLS:

Uddhav cries foul as EC hands

over Shiv Sena to Shinde faction

Thackeray says the thieves have been given the holy “bow and arrow” and that this is their test

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai/New Delhi

n a major setback to the Uddhav
Thackery faction of Shiv Sena,
Ithe Election Commission of In-
dia (ECI) on Friday allotted the par-
ty name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol
“Bow and Arrow” to the faction led by
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde. Both factions of Shiv Sena
(Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thac-
keray) have been fighting for the bow
and arrow symbol of the party since
Shinde (present Maharashtra Chief
Minister) revolted against Thackeray
last year.
While the Shinde faction wel-
comed the decision of being recog-
nized as the real Shiv Sena, the Ud-
dhav Thackeray faction said they will
move the Supreme Court.
The Uddhav Thackeray faction
accused the Election Commission of
haste and said the decision shows “it
works as BJP agent”. Exuding confi- Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray addresses a gathering outside Matoshree at Bandra in Mumbai on Saturday (ANI Photo)
dence of winning the election with the
‘torch’ symbol, former Maharashtra of the state know which face is real He also stressed that the people ay faction),” he said.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and which is not. would accept the new symbol. Pawar’s In another shocking develop-
on Saturday challenged Maharashtra “I would like to say that they want remarks came after Election Com- ment, Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray
CM Eknath Shinde to contest the elec- the face of Balasahev Thackeray, they mission of India (ECI) ordered that faction leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday
tion with the “stolen bow and arrow”, want the election symbol but not the the party name “Shiv Sena” and the alleged that deals and transactions
stating that the ‘battle has begun’. family of Shiv Sena. PM Narendra party symbol “Bow and Arrow” will worth Rs 2000 crore have been done
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Thac- Modi needs the mask of Balasaheb be given to the Eknath Shinde faction. so far to get the Shiv Sena party name
keray addressed his supporters on Thackeray to come to Maharashtra. The NCP chief asked Thackeray and its “bow and arrow” symbol.
Saturday outside Matoshree. He fur- People of the state know which face is to accept the Election Commission’s “The party, the leader and the
ther said that the thieves were given real and which is not,” said Thackeray. decision and take a new symbol. dishonest group bid Rs 50 crore for
the holy “bow and arrow” and that Last month, both the Maharash- He recalled the Congress having MLAs, Rs 100 crore for MPs and Rs
this is their test. tra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and to change its symbol from two bull- 50 lakh to 1 crore to buy our council-
“Thieves were given the holy former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led ocks with a yoke to hand and said that lors. How much it would bid to take
‘bow and arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ factions of the Shiv Sena submitted the people would accept the new sym- our name and symbol, you decide?
(mashaal) can be taken away. I chal- their written statements in support of bol of Uddhav Thackeray faction like My info is Rs 2,000 crore,” he said
lenge them - if they are men, come in their claims of control over the par- the way they accepted the Congress’ while addressing a press conference.
front of us even with the stolen ‘bow ty name and symbol to the Election new symbol. “I have informed the nation with
and arrow’, we will contest the elec- Commission. “I remember Indira Gandhi also my tweet. The way our symbol and
tion with the ‘torch’. This is our test, Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress faced this situation. Congress used Shiv Sena’s name have been taken is
the battle has begun,” Thackeray said. Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar re- to have a ‘two bullocks with a yoke’ not just, it’s a business deal for which
Thackeray further said that marked on the loss of the “bow and ar- symbol. Later they lost it & adopted Rs 2000 crore worth of transactions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs row” symbol of his ally Uddhav Thac- ‘hand’ as a new symbol & people ac- are done within 6 months. And this
the mask of Balasaheb Thackeray to keray faction on Friday, stating that cepted it. Similarly, people will accept is my initial estimate,” said Uddhav
come to Maharashtra but the people it would not have any major impact. the new symbol (of Uddhav Thacker- Thackeray faction leader.

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