Eknath Shinde-led rebel MLAs name their faction 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'

Mumbai: Rebelling Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Eknath Shinde, on Saturday decided to name their group Shiv Sena (Balasaheb). Shiv Sena promptly responded it will legally resist any move of the rebels to appropriate the name of the party or its founder.

The national executive of Shiv Sena on Saturday passed six resolutions while affirming full faith in the leadership of chief minister and party president Uddhav Thackeray to lead the party and government and empowered Thackeray to act against the rebels.

The resolution also said names of the party and its founder, the late Balasaheb Thackeray, cannot be used by any other political party or organisation and that the party would never compromise on the issues of Hindutva and Marathi pride.


"If you have the courage, then ask for votes in the name of your father, not in the name of others," Thackeray said at the national executive. "The name of Shiv Sena and Thackeray cannot be used by people for selfish reasons."

The national executive meet came after the Shinde-led faction announced that they have decided to name their group as Shiv Sena (Balasaheb).

Shiv Sena plans to either move court or approach the state election commission to prevent the Shinde camp from using the name of the party or its founder.

Shinde camp spokesperson and MLA Deepak Kesarkar said the group will abide by state election commission order. "However, if they (Uddhav camp) have an objection, we will just call our group as Shiv Sena as we have two-thirds of the legislative party with us," he told reporters.