Pune: A day after the Udhhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena was denied the iconic 'bow and arrow' symbol, Thackeray's ally and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said people will accept the new symbol, and the loss of the old one will barely have an impact on the party.
Thereby advising Uddhav to accept the decision and get a new symbol, Pawar said "It's the decision of the Election Commission. Once a decision is given, there should be no discussion. Accept it and take a new symbol. It (the loss of the old symbol) is not going to have any major impact as people will accept (the new symbol). It just would remain in the discussion for the next 15-30 days, that's it," the NCP Chief said while speaking to a group of reporters in Pune.
Pawar recalled a time Congress had to change its symbol from two bullocks with a yoke to the palm of a hand, which became Congress' new and the current symbol. "I remember Indira Gandhi also faced this situation. Congress used to have a 'two bullocks with a yoke' symbol. Later they lost it and adopted the 'hand' as a new symbol. People accepted it. Similarly, people will accept the new symbol (of Uddhav Thackeray faction) too," he said.
The remarks came against the backdrop of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) orders stating that the party name "Shiv Sena" and the party symbol "Bow and Arrow" will be given to the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Disappointed at the decision given Friday, the Uddhav Thackeray faction said they will move the Supreme Court, even as the Shinde faction welcomed the decision.
The Commission observed in its order that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been "mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all". It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence. Calling the poll panel's decision as "murder of democracy".
The Uddhav Thackeray faction meanwhile accused the Election Commission of haste and said the decision shows "it works as BJP agent". "They should first understand Balasaheb. They have come to know that 'Modi's face does not attract people in Maharashtra anymore so they have to put Balasaheb's mask on their face for their own benefit," Uddhav said during a press conference on Friday.
"I had said that ECI should not give a decision before the SC verdict. If the party's existence is decided based on the number of MLAs and MPs, any capitalist can purchase MLA, MP and become CM," he added. He further said they have the support of people even if he has temporarily lost the symbol and the name.
"We will surely go to the Supreme Court against this EC order. We are sure that the SC will set aside this order," Thackeray said. Shiv Sena was formed by Uddhav Thackeray's father Balasaheb Thackeray.
