Delhi: The Supreme Court of India will begin crucial hearings today, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in the long-running dispute over the Shiv Sena’s iconic ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol — a case that could reshape Maharashtra’s political future just weeks before the civic body elections.
The case, which has gripped the state’s political circles since 2022, stems from Uddhav Thackeray’s challenge to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision that recognised Eknath Shinde’s faction as the “real Shiv Sena.” The ECI’s ruling on February 17, 2023, granted Shinde control over both the party name and symbol, a move that Thackeray’s side termed “unconstitutional and politically motivated.”
A three-judge bench led by Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh, will preside over the hearings. The matter was expedited after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Uddhav Thackeray, urged the court for an early hearing citing the upcoming municipal polls from December 2.
The Thackeray faction, currently recognised as ‘Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’ with the temporary ‘Flaming Torch’ symbol, continues to argue that the ECI’s decision wrongly relied on legislative numbers instead of assessing the party’s organisational base, ideology, and historic continuity.
The verdict could have sweeping implications for Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance — potentially influencing alliances and voter sentiment ahead of Maharashtra’s civic elections.
