Eknath Shinde faction submits three choices of symbols to EC

The Eknath Shinde camp on Tuesday morning sent a list of their three options for the party emblem to the Election Commission of India through email, according to persons acquainted with the situation, amid a dispute with the Uddhav Thackeray group. According to reports, the options that have been presented are the sun, sword and shield, and pipal tree. The “bow and arrow” insignia of the Shiv Sena had been frozen by the EC last week due to a widening division. Even the Supreme Court had heard the case.

Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena) is the name given to the party by Team Eknath Shinde on Monday. Shiv Sena (Balasaheb Thackeray), the team’s second choice, was turned down on the grounds that it was also teaming with Uddhav’s first pick.

After the EC granted the name, Shinde – in a tweet, roughly translated from Marathi – said: “Finally the victory of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray’s Hindutva ideals. We are the inheritors of his ideals.” Ever since he revolted against Uddhav Thackeray and later took charge as Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde has been insisting that he continues to follow the ideals of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

The EC has already approved the use of a “mashaal,” or fiery torch, as a symbol for the Uddhav Thackeray camp. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Team Uddhav’s second choice, has been approved.

The changes occur ahead of an important by-election in Mumbai’s Andheri on November 3, the first since the Uddhav Thackeray government fell in June.