Uddhav camp moves SC for stay on proceedings in Election Commission

The Uddhav Thackery faction of the Shiv Sena Monday petitioned the Supreme Court seeking stay on proceedings before the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's claim for recognition as the real Shiv Sena and claim over the party's election symbol-the bow and arrow.

The application filed by the Thackery faction states that the Election Commission cannot decide the matter since a clutch of petitions are pending before the Supreme Court.

The application seeks to implead the Election Commission of India (ECI) as a respondent in the petition which challenges the decision of the Maharashtra Governor to invite Eknath Shinde to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.


The application states that even though on July 20 the Supreme Court was assured by the counsel appearing for the new Speaker that no further proceedings will be conducted in the matter pertaining to disqualification, the Shinde faction has initiated proceedings under Election Symbols claiming recognition as the real Shiv Sena by the Election Commission of India and claiming the right to use the election symbol allotted to the Shiv Sena.

"Respondents, despite the matter being pending before this Court, in acts of desperation and to somehow portray a majority are trying to illegally cobble up numbers and fabricate an artificial majority in the organisation. It is submitted that the private respondents have been indulging in several illegal activities contrary to the Constitution of the Shiv Sena", the application reads.