Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Friday termed the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena as "unexpected" and asked why the poll panel was in a hurry to give the ruling.
"It is an unexpected ruling. It is difficult to understand why so much haste was shown (by the EC) when the Supreme Court today morning said it would give decision (in a related matter) after hearing arguments from both the sides from February 21," Pawar said.
Election Commission, on Friday, allotted the name 'Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the group led by CM Shinde.
In a unanimous order on the six-month-old petition filed by Shinde, the three-member Commission said it had relied on the numerical strength of the party in the legislative wing, where the chief minister enjoyed the support of 40 of the 55 MLAs and 13 of the 18 Lok Sabha members.
"Everyone knows who founded the Shiv Sena. Who was Hindu-hriday Samrat? Who was the Shiv Sena chief? Who was leading the Sena after Balasaheb's death? So, the common Shiv Sainik and voters who believe in the Shiv Sena will retain respect toward Uddhav ji and will prove that their Shiv Sena is the real Shiv Sena in the elections," he said.
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While Shinde welcomed the EC ruling, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said the decision is dangerous for democracy, and that he will move the Supreme Court against it.
“They (Eknath Shinde faction) have stolen our bow and arrow symbol, but people will avenge this theft,” Thackeray told reporters at his Matoshree bungalow.
“If a party's existence is decided based on the number of MLAs and MPs, any capitalist can purchase MLA and MP and become the chief minister,” Thackeray said. "The party and people are with me. We complied with everything that the EC sought and submitted all papers about membership and organisational strength, and still the EC ruled against us," Thackeray said.
"We are sure that the SC will set aside this order and that the 16 MLAs will be disqualified by SC," he added.
Meanwhile, Shinde told reporters that in a democracy, what matters is the numbers and he has them. "This is victory of truth and people as well as blessings of Balasaheb Thackeray," Shinde said. “This is the victory of Balasaheb's legacy. Ours is the true Shiv Sena,” he added.