Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena gives three choices for poll symbol — trident, rising sun or burning torch

EC on Oct. 8 barred both factions of the Shiv Sena to use party name, symbol in Andheri East Assembly bypoll

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction has submitted the trishul (trident), mashaal (torch) and the ‘rising sun’ to the Election Commission of India as alternatives for a new party symbol, Thackeray camp loyalist MP Arvind Sawant said.

“We will never forsake our claim over the bow and arrow symbol. That symbol is rightfully ours,” Mr. Sawant said, while accusing the ECI of acting under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) BJP’s pressure.

Also read | Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray factions of Shiv Sena prepared to fight byeelection with new symbols, names

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 & arrow' in the Andheri East Assembly bypoll 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.

The Thackeray camp has also given some options for its official name in polls, a source said without elaborating.

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 bypoll is approaching.