Shiv Sena's bow and arrow symbol should go to Eknath Shinde camp: Ramdas Athawale

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, on Wednesday, dismissed claims that NCP chief Sharad Pawar was behind the rebellion that resulted in the collapse in Shiv Sena.

TN National Desk

Updated Jul 14, 2022, 07:05 IST

CM Eknath Shinde paid homage at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Chaityabhoomi Memorial, after winning the vote of confidence in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, on Monday.

File photo

Photo : IANS

Ahmedabad: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, on Wednesday said that the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is the 'original' Shiv Sena and claimed that it will succeed in getting the party's election symbol of bow and arrow. He also expressed confidence that the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government will complete 2.5 years, after which the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra will win 200 seats.

"As many as 40 out of the 55 Shiv Sena MLAs are with Eknath Shinde, and the Shiv Sena's poll symbol 'bow and arrow' should go to the Shinde faction. I am sure he will lay the claim for the symbol because he has more than two-thirds of MLAs with him," Athawale told reporters.

Athawale further added that the real Shiv Sena belongs to Eknath Shinde as he hails Balasaheb Thackeray as his leader and added that by virtue of being the faction with larger number of MLAs, the Shinde camp can be recognized as the original Shiv Sena.

Election Commission will give the Shinde faction the status of the original Shiv Sena: Athawale

"I feel both the court and the Election Commission will give the Shinde faction the status of the original Shiv Sena because he has such a large number of MLAs with him," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment dismissed reports that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had a hand behind the rebellion in Shiv Sena.

39 Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Eknath Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership resulting in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. BJP backed Shinde, who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on June 30.

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