NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction to focus on the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections , after the party sought an urgent hearing of its plea related to the 'bow and arrow' election symbol.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Sena (UBT), mentioned the matter for early hearing of the party's plea against the poll panel's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde group as the official Shiv Sena and grant them the 'bow and arrow' election symbol.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh told Sibal that the matter could be taken up only after the court's summer break due to the paucity of time. Sibal said the symbol, which has been with Shiv Sena (UBT), will be used by the Shinde faction in local body elections, and it will matter especially in rural areas.
As Justice Kant asked, since when local body elections were fought on party symbols, Sibal said it happens in Maharashtra, and the party symbol will have a great impact on voters' minds.
Sibal said EC decided to give the symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction solely on the test of legislative majority, which was contrary to the Constitution bench judgment of the apex court.
"Let the elections be held smoothly. You concentrate on that. In local bodies, mostly voters don't support a symbol," Justice Kant told Sibal.
The apex court said the matter can be heard by a vacation bench if Sibal makes a case and if it's very urgent.
On May 6, SC paved way for the local body polls in the state which were stalled for over five years due to a reservation issue. It ordered Maharashtra EC to notify it in four weeks.
On Feb 17, 2024, EC allotted the name 'Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the group led by Shinde.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Sena (UBT), mentioned the matter for early hearing of the party's plea against the poll panel's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde group as the official Shiv Sena and grant them the 'bow and arrow' election symbol.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh told Sibal that the matter could be taken up only after the court's summer break due to the paucity of time. Sibal said the symbol, which has been with Shiv Sena (UBT), will be used by the Shinde faction in local body elections, and it will matter especially in rural areas.
As Justice Kant asked, since when local body elections were fought on party symbols, Sibal said it happens in Maharashtra, and the party symbol will have a great impact on voters' minds.
Sibal said EC decided to give the symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction solely on the test of legislative majority, which was contrary to the Constitution bench judgment of the apex court.
"Let the elections be held smoothly. You concentrate on that. In local bodies, mostly voters don't support a symbol," Justice Kant told Sibal.
The apex court said the matter can be heard by a vacation bench if Sibal makes a case and if it's very urgent.
On May 6, SC paved way for the local body polls in the state which were stalled for over five years due to a reservation issue. It ordered Maharashtra EC to notify it in four weeks.
On Feb 17, 2024, EC allotted the name 'Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the group led by Shinde.
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