Shiv Sena's Name and Symbol Dispute Heads to Supreme Court, Kapil Sibal Argues Party's Legal Structure The Supreme Court of India is set to address a contentious legal dispute over the meaning of the Shiv Sena political party and its electoral symbol, with Kapil Sibal, representing the Udhiav Thackeray faction, defending the party's structure and governance. The case centers on the internal conflict between the Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions of the Shiv Sena, which has led to a prolonged legal battle over the party's organizational framework and electoral compliance. The court's inquiry began with a critical question: What does the term "Shiv Sena" signify? Is it a political party, a working committee, or a legislative assembly? Sibal, appearing for the Thackeray faction, argued that Shiv Sena is a political party with a defined structure, including separate entities such as the legislative assembly party, national working committee, and parliamentary party. He emphasized that the party operates under a democratic framework, with all changes in leadership and organizational structure requiring adherence to the Representation of the People Act, specifically Section 29A, which mandates transparency in electoral processes. Sibal highlighted that the party's internal rules stipulate that the selection of a party chief must be approved by the national working committee. He accused the Shinde faction of violating these rules by ousting the party chief without following the prescribed democratic procedures, thereby breaching the party's constitution. This action, he argued, constitutes a direct violation of the party's democratic principles and the legal framework governing electoral conduct.#election_commission_of_india #shiv_sena #kapil_sibal #shinde_faction #udhiav_thackeray
