Mumbai: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday (July 8, 2022) said the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol is with the parent party, amid a clash with a rebel faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to stake claim on the party’s election symbol. Will stay
He also demanded mid-term elections in Maharashtra, saying people should be allowed to take a stand on toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by him.
Addressing a press conference here, Thackeray said the change of power in the state could not have happened in 2019 with dignity and with “betrayal”, as was done last week.
He was referring to the separation of Shiv Sena and BJP on the issue of rotational chief minister after the 2019 assembly election results.
Thackeray also hit out at the Shiv Sena’s rebel group for being silent when the BJP targeted and “insulted” him and his family over the past two-and-a-half years.
Without naming Shinde, he said, “You keep in touch with him and betray your own party like this.”
He said that the Supreme Court’s decision on July 11 will not only decide the future of Shiv Sena but also the future of Indian democracy. The top court will deliver its verdict on a petition seeking disqualification of 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.
Thackeray said he had consulted constitutional experts, who told him that there may be a split in the legislature party, but the original party remains and cannot be abolished.
“The Legislature Party and the Mool Dal are two different entities. There should be no confusion about the election symbol. Shiv Sainiks should rest assured that the bow and arrow symbol will remain with us,” he said.
Thackeray also said that he will take a decision on which candidate to support for the presidential election after consulting party MPs.