“The Election Commission gave a decision a few days ago. This is an example of how an institution can be misused. We have never seen such a decision by the EC. Balasaheb Thackeray, in his last days, had said that Shiv Sena’s responsibility would be given to Uddhav Thackeray,” the senior politician said.
Alleging that the poll panel’s decision was “a big attack on political parties”, Pawar claimed that “someone complained to the Election Commission and it gave a verdict and allotted the Shiv Sena and its symbol to someone who did not form the party”.
“Today, the Election Commission and other organisations are giving decisions that the ruling government wants,” he added.
On February 17, the NCP president had said that the EC’s verdict would not make much difference.
“In my view, it will not make any difference. People will discuss it for a fortnight or a month, then forget it. In the past too, Congress led by Indira Gandhi had faced a similar situation. Then its cow-and-calf symbol was changed to the hand. People accepted the new symbol. Now also, it will not make any difference.”
Uddhav Thackeray had called the EC decision a “theft” and “murder of democracy,” and petitioned the apex court for a stay on the order. The court has sought a response from the Shinde group in two weeks.
The two factions have been at loggerheads since Shinde broke away with a majority of Shiv Sena MLAs, and with support from the BJP formed the government in Maharashtra, dislodging Uddhav Thackeray as CM.