NCP chief Sharad Pawar said late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray wanted Uddav Thackeray to take the responsibility of the party after him.
New Delhi ,UPDATED: Feb 22, 2023 18:42 IST
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the EC decision to allot the ‘Shiv Sena’ name and party symbol was an attack on all political parties. (File photo)
By India Today Web Desk: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said Shiv Sena chief late Balasaheb Thackeray wanted Uddav Thackeray to take the responsibility of the party after him, days after the Election Commission allotted the party name and party symbol to Eknath Shinde’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena.
The statement from the veteran politician comes days after he distanced himself from the Shiv Sena symbol and name controversy.
“In his last days, Balasaheb Thackeray said that Shiv Sena’s responsibility should be given to Uddhav Thackeray after him,” said Pawar.
“…the Election Commission gave a verdict and allotted the Shiv Sena and its symbol to someone else. This is a big attack on political parties,” he said.
Taking potshots at the BJP-ruled Centre, Pawar said, “Today, the Election Commission and other organizations are giving decisions that the ruling government wants. Today, the organization which is working in the country under Modi’s leadership thinks they will keep power in their hands.”
After the Election Commission of India alloted the ‘Shiv Sena’ name and the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol to Eknath Shinde’s faction, Pawar asked Uddhav Thackeray to accept the poll body’s decision and take a new symbol.
“It’s the decision of the Election Commission. Once a decision is given, there can be no discussion. Accept it and take a new symbol. It [loss of old symbol] is not going to have any major impact as people will accept [new symbol],” Pawar advised Uddhav Thackeray, who called the ED an agent of the BJP and called for its dissolution.
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Pawar had cited Congress’s example to press upon Thackeray on how the change in the party symbol would not affect people. “Congress used to have a ‘two bullocks with a yoke’ symbol. Later they adopted ‘hand’ as a new symbol and people accepted it. Similarly, people will accept the new symbol [of Uddhav Thackeray faction],” the veteran politician had remarked.
