Page 45 - Election Commission

EC decision to allot 'bow and arrow' symbol to us victory of truth: Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the Election Commission's decision to allot his faction of the Shiv Sena the "bow and arrow" election symbol was a victory of truth. Addressing a Shivaji Jayanti function in Agra in Uttar Pradesh Sunday evening, he said his faction got the "bow and arrow" symbol because of the blessings of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The majority has a weightage in democracy and the truth has prevailed, he said on the Election Commission decision. The Election Commission on Friday recognised the Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered allocation of the "bow and arrow" poll symbol to it, delivering a big blow to the rival camp led by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose father Bal Thackeray founded the outfit in 1966. Shinde was in Agra to attend the 393rd birth anniversary celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century Maratha ruler, at the Diwan-e-Aam of the Agra Fort. It was organised by Ajinkya Deogiri

After ECI ruling, Maharashtra CM, ministers change to new name-symbol

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, several of his Ministers have now switched over to the new name-symbol on their social media accounts

Uddhav calls meeting of party leaders for discussion after EC decision

A day after the Election Commission (EC) recognised the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the rival camp, on Saturday called a meeting of his party leaders and functionaries to discuss the future course of action. The meeting of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leaders, deputy leaders, elected representatives and spokespersons will be held at Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra in the afternoon, Thackeray's aide said. In a big blow to Thackeray, the EC on Friday allotted the name 'Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the group led by CM Shinde. This is for the first time that the Thackeray family has lost control of the party that was founded in 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray on the principles of justice for the sons of the soil. In a unanimous order on the six-month-old petition filed by Shinde, the three-member Commission said it had relied on the numerical strength of the party in the legislative wing, .

Why EC was in hurry to decide Sena case, asks NCP leader Ajit Pawar

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Friday termed the Election Commission's decision to recognize the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena as "unexpected" and asked why the poll panel was in a hurry to give the ruling. Ordinary Shiv Sena workers will stand by Uddhav Thackeray, he added. "It is an unexpected ruling. It is difficult to understand why so much haste was shown (by the EC ) when the Supreme Court today morning said it would give decision (in a related matter) after hearing arguments from both the sides from February 21," Pawar said. "Everyone knows who founded the Shiv Sena. Who was Hindu-hriday Samrat? Who was the Shiv Sena chief? Who was leading the Sena after Balasaheb's death? So the common Shiv Sainik and voters who believe in the Shiv Sena will retain respect toward Uddhav ji and will prove that their Shiv Sena is the real Shiv Sena in the elections," he said.

Party constitutions should have fair mechanism to settle disputes: EC

The Election Commission on Friday lamented that party constitutions are often "mutilated" to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office-bearers without any election at all. While delivering its final order allotting the name 'Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the poll panel also observed that the constitutions of political parties ought to provide for free, fair and transparent election of office-bearers. It also stressed on a free and fair procedure for the resolution of internal disputes. "These procedures ought to be difficult to amend and should be amendable only after ensuring a larger support of the organisational members for the same," it said. It said that by the time a dispute comes to the Commission, the party constitutions are often seen to have been mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office-bearers without any election at all. Such party structures fail

Uddhav to move SC over EC decision, says it's dangerous for democracy

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said the Election Commission's order recognising Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena was "dangerous for democracy", and he would challenge it in the Supreme Court. Speaking at a press conference hours after the EC decision, Thackeray accused the poll panel of having become the Union government's slave. "It may even take away our symbol of flaming torch tomorrow," he said. He also appealed to his followers not to give up, and fight the battle to win. The party and people were with him, he said. ''Let the thieves rejoice for a few days," he said, reacting to the setback to his faction. The Supreme Court is the last hope to ensure that democracy is alive in the country, Thackeray said. If this hope vanished, we should stop holding elections forever and become a one-man rule, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should announce that after 75 years of independence the country was not a democracy any longer but moving towards

Over 51% turnout till 1 pm in Tripura Assembly polls: Election officials

A senior police official said that a police constable was suspended in Gomati district for his alleged role in urging people to cast votes in favour of the ruling BJP

EC to take call on J&K elections, statehood after assembly polls: Amit Shah

Shah said Article 370 pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, which was abrogated by the BJP-led government in 2019, had harmed the country

Power does not remain with anyone forever, says NCP leader Ajit Pawar

Pawar made remarks while addressing a campaign event for the Kasba Assembly bye-election in Pune

SC decision on rebel Sena MLAs' disqualification should come first: Uddhav

Uddhav Thackeray, who heads a faction of the Shiv Sena, on Wednesday said that the decision by the Supreme Court on the disqualification of the party's rebel MLAs should come first and then by the Election Commission on who the original party belongs to. Addressing a press conference, Thackeray also asked why the EC froze the Shiv Sena name and its bow and arrow' symbol when it has not been used by the rival Eknath Shinde faction yet. The decision on disqualification should come first and then by the Election Commission (which faction Shiv Sena belongs to), Uddhav said, adding that the apex court will start hearing the matter related to the disqualification of rebel MLAs on a daily basis from February 14. The Sena was split last June after a rebellion led by Shinde, prompting his faction and the one headed by Uddhav Thackeray to try to stake claim over the party's name and its symbol.

EC sends showcause notice to NPP, UDP in Meghalaya for model code violation

The Election Commission of India has issued showcause notice to National People's Party (NPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) as their candidates in West Shillong constituency allegedly distributed pressure cookers and bowl sets to voters in violation of the model code of conduct, Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said on Saturday. Elections to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2. "We have taken suo moto cognizance of the matter following reports that the candidates of these political parties (NPP and UDP) have violated the model code of conduct. They were asked to reply ... ," Chief electoral officer FR Kharkongor told PTI. The showcause was issued by the returning officer of West Shillong assembly constituency to the general secretary of both the parties. National People's Party candidate Mohindro Rapsang and United Democratic Party (UDP) nominee Paul Lyngdoh on January 28 and 30 had allegedly ...

EC revises polling date to Feb 26 for 2 bypoll seats in Maharashtra

The Election Commission (EC) has "revised" the date of polling, from February 27 to February 26, for bypolls in two assembly seats of Maharashtra's Pune district after it was informed about the dates clashing with scheduled class 12 and graduation exams there. The poll panel issued a press note on Wednesday to announce the change. "The District Election Officer of Pune, Maharashtra has reported regarding clash of date of poll with dates of 12th Standard HSC exam and graduate degree exam to be conducted at various polling stations of the assembly constituencies where by-elections are being held," the EC said. Having considered the matter, ground situation and all other relevant aspects of the matter, the Commission has decided to "revise" the date of poll for by-elections to assembly constituencies 205- Chinchwad and 215-Kasba Peth of Maharashtra, it said. It said that the date of poll will now be February 26. The date of counting of votes is unchanged at March 2, the day the resul

3 EC special observers to visit Tripura today to review poll preparedness

Three special observers of the Election Commission will arrive in Tripura on Monday to review preparedness and security arrangement for the upcoming assembly elections in the northeastern state, a senior official said. Three special observers - Yogendra Tripathy, Vivek Johri and B Murli Kumar - will hold meetings with officials on Tuesday to take stock of the election preparations and other poll-related issues, Additional CEO Subhasish Bondhyapadyay said. They will have separate meetings with district magistrates (DMs) and superintendents of police, he said, adding that the special observers are scheduled to leave for another poll-bound state Meghalaya on January 27. Tripathy is the general observer while Johri will see police-related issues and Murli Kumar will observe expenditure. So far, around 200 companies of central paramilitary forces have arrived in the northeastern state and have been engaged in confidence-building measures across the state, the poll official said. If ...

Nagaland polls: EC meets with parties on expenditure monitoring measures

Ahead of the Nagaland assembly polls, State Election Commission held a meeting with the political parties in regard to expenditure monitoring measures

Have full faith in EC: Sanjay Raut on row over Shiv Sena's poll symbol

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said their faction has presented its case for control of the party's poll symbol "bow and arrow" before the Election Commission

EC reminds parties of law, provisions barring use of religious institutions

Ahead of assembly polls in three northeastern states and various byelections, the Election Commission has reminded its field machinery and political parties of a law and provisions of the model code

Election Commission orders probe into attacks on Cong bike rally in Tripura

The incident took place hours after the announcement of the Tripura assembly poll schedule on Wednesday

Digvijaya Singh demands VVPAT slips be used for declaring poll results

VVPAT system keeps a physical trail of all votes cast. It allows voters to verify their votes are cast as intended

Shinde camp arguments on constitution have contradictions: Thackeray group

The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena told EC that the arguments placed by the Eknath Shinde camp on the flaws in the party's amended constitution were full of contradictions

EC starts discussion with parties over remote EVMs for migrant workers

After remarks by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the poll watchdog will demonstrate to the representatives of political parties the remote electronic voting machine (RVM)