Trishul, Rising Sun Top Poll Symbol Choices of Uddhav-led Sena

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction has submitted to the Election Commission its three choices of poll symbols—a trishul, rising sun and a mashaal (burning torch), media reported on Sunday.

The Election Commission had on Saturday barred the Shiv Sena factions led by former chief minister Thackeray and present Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde from using the party name and its election symbol 'bow and arrow' in the Andheri East Assembly by-poll scheduled on November 3.

In an interim order over claims by the rival factions for control of the organisation, the commission asked them to suggest by Monday three different name choices and also as many free symbols for allocation to their respective groups.

A source from the Thackeray faction said, “The Sena has submitted three options as an alternative before the Election Commission -- a trishul, rising sun and a burning torch, also known as mashaal in Marathi and Hindi languages."

The Thackeray camp has also given a few options for its official name in polls. While 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray' is the first choice for the name, 'Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray' is the second option, NDTV reported.

The EC's interim order on Saturday came on the Shinde faction's request seeking it be allocated the symbol as the Andheri East assembly by-poll is approaching.

The rival factions had approached the Election Commission after the split in the Shiv Sena ranks in June this year, with both sides claiming to be the 'real Shiv Sena'.

The bypoll to Andheri East Assembly seat in suburban Mumbai has been necessitated due to the death of incumbent Sena MLA Ramesh Latke.

The Congress and the NCP have decided to support Ramesh Latke's wife Rujuta Latke, the candidate of the Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the Shinde faction, has decided to field Murji Patel, a corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.