ECI gives a days’ notice to Uddhav camp to respond to the election symbol dispute and recognition case

@the_news_21

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday has served a final, days’ notice to Shivsena party leader Uddhav Thackeray asking him to respond by 2 pm on October 8 to the claim made the rival Shivsena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to be allot the symbol of the party ‘Bow and Arrow’ in view of ongoing bye-election from 166-Andheri East Assembly Constituency.

The ECI in its letter has drawn the attention of the Uddhav Thackeray led faction to its earlier notices of July 22 and September 29, 2022 asking the latter to furnish written submissions along with relevant documents latest by October 7.

“It may be recalled that the above timeline was given in the context of exchange of documents supporting rival claims to be the real Shiv Sena from your side and that from Eknath Shinde faction for determination under Para l5 of the Symbols Order, 1968”, states the ECI letter.

The ECI has further pointed out that the application made by Chirag Shah, Advocate for the Shinde faction had been served to the Thackeray faction via email on October 4 itself.

The Commission letter further notes “Though your reply is yet to be received, considering the fact bye-election has been notified from 166- Andheri East Assembly Constituency, it is directed that you may furnish your comments along with requisite documents as requested by the Commission’s letter dated 29.09.2022, now, latest by 2:00 pm of 8.10.2022. Your response should account for the reference dated 0 4.10.2022 as mentioned in para 2 above. In case no reply is received, the Commission will take appropriate action in the matter accordingly.”

According to unconfirmed reports appearing in a section of the media, the Thackeray faction in its reply to the ECI has said that the faction led by Eknath Shinde cannot claim the ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol as he and other MLAs in his camp had ‘voluntarily quit the party’.

The by-election to the Andheri East Assembly constituency is due to be held on November 3. The by-poll was necessitated due to the demise of sitting Sena MLA Ramesh Latke in Dubai in May earlier this year. Sources disclosed that Latke’s wife Rutuja Latke has been nominated by the Thackeray faction to contest the by-poll. It will be an acid test for both the Sena factions ever since the party split in June earlier this year.