EC Decision On Shiv Sena Symbol: Will More Leaders Desert Uddhav Thackeray, What Will Be Political, Financial Implications

 

Mumbai: A decision of the Election Commission has created turmoil in the politics of Maharashtra these days. The Shinde faction is elated, while the Uddhav faction is cursing the Election Commission (EC) as well as the Central Government. Recently, the EC handed over the election symbol of Shiv Sena and the name of the party to the Shinde faction.

Amit Shah justified EC decision

The leaders of the Uddhav group are angry with the decision of the Election Commission and are making harsh comments. Union Home Minister Amit Shah justified the action of the EC.
Uddhav faction leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that a transaction of 2000 crores has taken place for this. Sanjay Raut said that the traitor group spent Rs 50 crore to buy each MLA so they can spend that much money for the symbol. Sanjay Raut and the leaders of the Shiv Sena Uddhav faction will file an appeal against the decision of the Election Commission in the Supreme Court tomorrow i.e. on 20 February.

Raut dares Maha govt to call for fresh elections

On Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to Pune on Saturday, had welcomed the decision of the Election Commission. He had said that the truth has prevailed in the case.

Raut dared the government to call for fresh elections and seek a mandate from the people to see Shiv Sena belongs to whom.

"The party and people are with Uddhav Thackeray and the legal battle will continue," Raut said.

Earlier, supporters of Uddhav Thackeray gathered outside his official residence, Matoshree, in a show of strength and raised slogans in his support.  

Thackeray faction will approach SC

The Thackeray faction will approach the Supreme Court on Monday, February 20, against the Election Commission's decision to give the name and symbol of the Shiv Sena to the Shinde faction. The Thackeray faction has been fuming ever since the Election Commission's decision and is strongly opposing the decision.

Uddhav will also suffer loss of money

In 2019-20, Shiv Sena has FDs worth 48.46 crores and immovable assets worth 186 crores. Now Eknath Shinde, who will be appointed as the treasurer, will manage this money with his signature. That is, after leaving name and symbol of Shiv Sena, Uddhav will also suffer financial loss.
Shiv Sena has big offices at 82 places across Maharashtra and 280 small offices in Mumbai, whose possession may be disputed in the coming days.

Eknath Shinde will now occupy the office allotted to the Shiv Sena in the assembly, but the Shiv Sena office in Dadar and the party's mouthpiece Saamana will remain in the ownership of Thackeray family.

Political impact

After Shinde gets Shiv Sena, there will be an economic impact on the Uddhav group, but the political impact of the Election Commission's decision will also be seen. 

For the last 27 years, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been occupied by Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray. If the election is announced by March, then Uddhav Thackeray may suffer loss in the election.

The crisis in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) has deepened. With elections to the Mumbai civic body — controlled by the Shiv Sena for decades — due this year, it’s a blow to the Thackerays.

More leaders, MPs, MLAs can desert Uddhav

While only time can answer this question, at this point the odds are stacked against Uddhav. After losing 40 MLAs and 13 MPs, he has now lost the party. The question now is — will more leaders desert them?

The membership of the MLAs still with Uddhav will be in danger after the party loses symbol. In such a situation, most of the MLAs can go to the Shinde camp for saving membership, it is difficult to stop the MPs as well. Shiv Sena's dispute is still in the Supreme Court and 37 MLAs are facing the threat of defection and the decision of the Election Commission can give relief to the Shinde faction in the Supreme Court as well.

Uddhav faction is short of leaders

Shiv Sena had a strong hold in Maharashtra's Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Konkan during Balasaheb Thackeray and there are about 100 assembly seats in these areas. After the split in the Shiv Sena, the Uddhav faction is short of leaders in Palghar, Konkan and Thane, except for Uddhav and Aditya, there is no mass base leader left in the party.

Balasaheb's legacy

After the split in Shiv Sena, the biggest debate was over the use of Balasaheb Thackeray's picture. Uddhav Thackeray had even said that Shinde should use his father's picture and not someone else's father, however, Shinde did not agree. After the decision of the Election Commission, Eknath Shinde can now easily use the picture of Balasaheb. Because Balasaheb has been the founder of Shiv Sena.