Sena Symbol Row: Final SC Hearings Spark New Political Slugfest

A fresh political war of words has erupted between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as the Supreme Court began final hearings in the long-running dispute over control of the party. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that the rival faction's "game will be over legally", while Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske hit back, saying the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had already lost the political battle. In a post on social media platform X, Raut said the Shiv Sena (UBT) had faith in the Constitution and the judicial process.

Referring to the petitions filed by his faction before the Supreme Court following the party split four years ago, Raut expressed confidence that the legal proceedings would ultimately favour the Thackeray-led group. His post also featured an image of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.

Responding to Raut's remarks, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske criticised the UBT faction and accused its leaders of targeting the judiciary whenever court decisions go against them. In a social media post directed at Raut, Mhaske claimed that the rival faction had already suffered a political setback and alleged that its remaining strategy was limited to making personal attacks.

The exchange comes as the Supreme Court on Wednesday began the final hearing on petitions filed by the Thackeray-led faction challenging the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Shinde-led group as the "real Shiv Sena". The legal battle stems from the split within the party in 2022, when Shinde led a rebellion against the Shiv Sena leadership, resulting in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government. During the hearing, the Supreme Court observed that a political party retains control over its legislature wing and that valid decisions taken by the party must be given importance.

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At the same time, the court also highlighted the need to provide some flexibility to elected representatives in situations where a majority of lawmakers genuinely disagree with the directives issued by the party organisation. The dispute between the two factions has remained one of Maharashtra's biggest political battles since the 2022 split. After Shinde's rebellion, his faction received recognition from the Election Commission as the official Shiv Sena and was allotted the party's traditional "bow and arrow" symbol. The decision was challenged by the Thackeray faction, which argued that the process and interpretation of party control required judicial review.

The Supreme Court's final hearing is expected to examine several constitutional and political questions related to party splits, legislative authority, disqualification proceedings, and the role of election authorities in recognising rival factions. The outcome of the case could have wider implications for political parties facing internal divisions and disputes over ownership of party names and symbols.

As the legal proceedings continue, both Shiv Sena factions remain engaged in a public and political battle over legitimacy. While the Shinde-led group maintains that it represents the majority and the original party structure, the Shiv Sena (UBT) continues to argue that its claim is based on constitutional principles and the legacy of the organisation founded by Bal Thackeray.

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