MUMBAI: Uddhav Thackeray reacted sharply to the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde being allowed with the official symbol of the party, the bow and arrow. From his family home, Matoshree, he told the followers that the Election Commission has become a slave of Narendra Modi and to get ready for the next election. Uddhav Thackeray addressed the crowd gathered outside from the sunroof of the house reminiscent of Bal Thackeray. His reaction was angered by the backlash after the Shinde faction was recognized as an official Shiv Sena faction.

Uddhav Thackeray said that the party's symbol was stolen and the thieves should be taught a lesson. The Election Commission's decision came on Friday, rejecting the arguments of the faction led by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, son of party founder Bala Sahab Thackeray. Uddhav can use the party name Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and the flaming torch symbol, which was earlier approved by the commission.

After the Shiv Sena split, the Election Commission also counted the votes of 40 MLAs and 13 MPs who supported the Shinde faction. The commission observed that 75 percent of the votes won by the party in the 2019 assembly elections were won by MLAs from the Shinde faction. Uddhav has the support of only 15 MLAs and five MPs. The Uddhav faction has informed that they will approach the Supreme Court questioning the action of the Election Commission. Eknath Shinde's response was that the action is the victory of truth and the majority is important in a democracy.

Meanwhile, in July 2022, there was a split in the Shiv Sena led by the majority MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. Then, with the help of the BJP, Eknath Shinde formed a new government as Chief Minister. Following this, the Election Commission froze the bow and arrow, which had been a proud symbol since Bal Thackeray formed the Shiv Sena in 1966.

In October, the Election Commission granted the Shinde faction the name Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (Shiv Sena of Balasaheb) and two swords and a shield as its symbol. The Uddhav Thackeray faction was given the name Balasaheb Thackeray and a torch symbol. The Uddhav sect filed a petition in the High Court against the freezing of the bow and arrow symbol, but it was rejected.