SC allows Election Commission to decide ‘real Shiv Sena’
The faction led by Uddhav Thackeray had asked the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent the Election Commission from making a decision about the group led by Eknath Shinde’s claim to be the “genuine” Shiv Sena and its emblem.
The Supreme Court today declined to block the Election Commission from determining who makes up the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, dealing Uddhav Thackeray a significant setback in his battle with Eknath Shinde.
The faction led by Uddhav Thackeray had asked the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent the Election Commission from making a decision about the group led by Eknath Shinde’s claim to be the “genuine” Shiv Sena and its emblem.
The petition was heard by the Supreme Court’s Constitution bench. The Maharashtra administration of Uddhav Thackeray was overthrown in June under the leadership of his former ally Eknath Shinde, who then joined the BJP to establish a new government.
Justice DY Chandrachud, heading a constitution bench, rejected the plea of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction seeking to restrain the EC from deciding the Shinde group’s claim over the “real” Shiv Sena. “We direct that there would be no stay of the proceedings before the Election Commission,” the bench also comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha said.
Mr Shinde took the oath of office as chief minister on June 30, and the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis served as his deputy.