NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday told the Election Commission not to decide on a plea by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to recognise his group as the real Shiv Sena. The direction has brought a big relief to former CM Uddhav Thackeray in the fight over control of the Shiv Sena.
The Supreme Court is likely to take a call on Monday on whether the matter needs to be referred to a constitution bench.
The Election Commission has asked the rival factions of the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, to submit documents by August 8 in support of their claims on the election symbol of the political outfit.The Shiv Sena split last month when more than two-thirds of the party’s MLAs withdrew their support from the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray, throwing their lot with Shinde.
Elections are due in several civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which would indicate which Sena faction gets the popular support.