Uddhav faction sends 8.5 lakh membership forms to Election Commission

According to reports, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has sent the Indian Election Commission's headquarters 8.5 lakh primary membership applications. The poll panel is debating the dispute between the Thackeray faction and the camp led by CM Eknath Shinde about who is the "genuine" Shiv Sena. In anticipation of the BMC bye-elections on November 3, the EC earlier in the month also froze the party's name and emblem.

 

Anil Desai, a Sena MP, was reported in the newspaper as claiming that although they had gathered 11 lakh primary membership forms, they had only sent 8.5 lakh papers since the EC had set submission requirements. Desai went on to say that 2.62 lakh affidavits from all of the party's office holders, including district chiefs and booth heads, had also been submitted. More affidavits from other districts will also be added, he continued. Sena became wary and the leadership requested affidavits of honesty from its leaders after 40 MLAs led by CM Eknath Shinde revolted against the BJP and shook hands with them. The MLAs, Corporators, Shakha chiefs and other office holders were required to sign the affidavits.

 

According to the sources' information, the document stated: "I fully trust and believe in the Shiv Sena's constitution. I firmly believe in the ideas and values expressed by the late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray, the head of the Shiv Sena, has my utmost confidence, and I am behind him in his leadership. I reaffirm my commitment to upholding the party's founding principles and pledge to Uddhav Thackeray's leadership."

 

 

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