Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Sunday reacted to the Election Commission’s decision after the Shiv Sena’s name and symbol bow and arrow were banned. He said that he was not at all surprised at this decision, as he was already aware of it. He said that Shiv Sena will not end by forfeiture of Shiv Sena’s name and its election symbol.
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Sharad Pawar said that freezing of symbols will not have any effect on the Andheri bypolls, as the NCP and Congress have extended support to the candidate of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The reason for this is that no party or organization runs by the election symbol, but the support and cooperation of the people remain important.
He said that this kind of incident has happened with the Congress party before, so it is not a new thing. With the cooperation of the public, miracles can be done again, so Uddhav Thackeray should prepare for the by-elections without giving much importance to it. Pawar has expressed confidence that the young generation there will stand stronger and increase their strength.
Responding to a question from journalists, Pawar said Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena (Thackeray group) are in Maha Vikas Aghadi. Pawar has made it clear that this decision will not have any impact on the Mahavikas Aghadi. Sharad Pawar has also advised that Thackeray and the Shinde group should be prepared to face elections in the coming times.
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar said the Election Commission’s decision to ban Shiv Sena’s name and bow and arrow symbol is shocking to the people, but certainly not unexpected. This does not stop the loyalty of the people. The loyalty shown in Uddhav Thackeray’s Dussehra rally will definitely be seen in the elections as well, he said, however, it is true that a true Shiv Sainik would be deeply hurt by freezing the bow and arrow symbol and the Shiv Sena name.
Former mayor and Shiv Sena spokesperson Kishori Pednekar said that late Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and its election symbol have been confiscated because of Shinde group. People are angry with this and are saying that the Shinde group has sold their mother like Shiv Sena, he said, the Shinde group will have to bear the consequences for this.
Shinde Group spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar said Shiv Sena and its decision to confiscate the symbol was unexpected. They never wanted this, in this regard, the application will be made again before the Election Commission on Monday and efforts will be made to get this name and symbol.
