The Election Commission (EC) has asked rival Shiv Sena factions, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, to submit documents to prove that they have a majority of members backing them to support their claims on the election symbol of the political outfit.  The documentary evidence will decide who will lead the party. Both Shinde and Thackeray factions have claimed that they are the real Shiv Sena.

The EC also forwarded the Shinde camp’s letter, written to the poll body, to the Thackeray faction and the latter’s letter to the Shinde faction, seeking their replies by August 8. Sources in the EC  said the two sides have been asked to submit documents, including letters of support from the legislative and organisational wings of the party and the written statements of the rival factions. “The requirement was made in line with Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968,” sources said.

After the poll body directions, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut lashed out at the EC on Saturday saying Delhi wants to destroy the 56-year-old party formed by Balasaheb Thackeray, “It’s shocking for Maharashtra’s people. Balasaheb Thackeray formed the party 56 years ago, thinking about Hindutva and EC is raising questions on his organisation. Delhi wants to destroy our party. Uddhav Thackeray is the only leader of Shiv Sena today,” Raut said,

Meanwhile, exuding confidence over the majority of MLAs on their side, Chief Minister Shinde said, “The EC wrote to us. We will take our stand in front of the Election Commission. We are Shiv Sena. We have 50 MLAs and in Lok Sabha, 2/3rd members are with us.”

Earlier this week, the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena had written to the Commission for allocation of the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol to it , citing the recognition granted to them in the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly and it it has the support of 40 out of 55 Shiv Sena MLAs and 12 out of 18 Lok Sabha MPs.

The Shiv Sena split last month when more than two-thirds of the party’s MLAs withdrew their support from the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray, throwing their lot with Shinde.   Shinde was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister on June 30 with support of the BJP.