Battle for the Sena: On EC freezing Shiv Sena’s name and symbol
The HinduIn an interim order on Monday, the Election Commission of India has allotted ‘Balasahebanchi Shivsena’ as the party name for the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, also asking it to furnish a fresh list of three symbols by Tuesday. The ECI’s preceding decision to freeze the name and the symbol of the Shiv Sena has followed precedent — in earlier cases of splits in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Lok Janshakti Party, the commission had kept the symbols suspended until a final decision on the contesting claims of rival factions could be taken. Whichever faction will be seen as the more real Shiv Sena by the public will win the battle, regardless of who gets to keep the symbol and the name. Mr. Thackeray has inherited the name of his father and Sena founder, Bal Thackeray, but his style and character may be a bit too modest for the party’s reputation.