The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent intervention in the ongoing dispute over the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol, ahead of the imminent local body elections in Maharashtra.
The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and K. Vinod Chandran, which agreed to list the plea for hearing on July 14. The Thackeray faction expressed concerns over the likely notification of local elections in the state and sought an interim arrangement to protect the voters’ right to make an informed choice.
Advocate for the UBT group argued that the issue raises significant questions about electoral fairness and public perception, emphasizing that the dispute must be resolved before the elections are notified. He urged the court to adopt an approach similar to that taken in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) symbol row, where the Supreme Court in November 2023 had directed the Ajit Pawar faction to publish a public disclaimer about the ongoing legal dispute over the “clock” symbol.
The Thackeray camp’s counsel noted that the plea was not entertained earlier on May 7 by a bench led by Justice Surya Kant, which was also hearing the symbol-related cases. However, the bench had stated that the matter could be re-mentioned during the court’s partial working period, which is currently underway.
Meanwhile, counsel for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction reminded the court that a similar request had already been denied on May 7 and urged that no special consideration be given.
The dispute over the iconic ‘bow and arrow’ symbol erupted after the Maharashtra assembly speaker in 2023 allocated it to the Shinde faction, citing legislative majority. The Thackeray group has contested the decision, calling it unconstitutional and in violation of the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench judgment in the Shiv Sena split case.
The matter has gained urgency as the Supreme Court, on May 6, directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to conduct long-delayed local body elections, which had been stalled for over five years due to issues related to reservation.
The July 14 hearing could prove pivotal in shaping the electoral landscape in Maharashtra, as both factions of the Shiv Sena prepare to contest under their respective banners amid continuing legal uncertainty.
