Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Questions Sena Symbol Test Amid MLA Disqualification
Two groups are arguing about who should use the Shiv Sena name and election symbol.
One group is led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.
The other is led by Eknath Shinde.
The Election Commission of India had to decide which group represented the original party.
The Supreme Court questioned how that decision was made.
The court asked why both groups could not compete without giving one group the old name and symbol.
This question came after the commission found problems with the tests used to identify the real party.
The court is examining whether that approach was fair while some MLAs face possible disqualification.
The Supreme Court questioned the Election Commission of India’s approach in the Sena faction dispute.
The case concerns who should control Shiv Sena’s original party name and election symbol.
The competing factions are Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s Sena and Eknath Shinde’s Sena.
The court asked why the commission did not let both factions contest using their own strengths.
The court raised the question after the commission reportedly found limitations in competing faction tests.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s Sena, and Eknath Shinde’s Sena.
- What
- The Supreme Court questioned the use of a legislative-majority test in deciding which faction could retain Shiv Sena’s original name and election symbol.
- When
- The Supreme Court raised the questions on Wednesday.
- Where
- The dispute is before the Supreme Court in the Sena case.
- Why
- The court questioned why both factions were not allowed to contest independently after the Election Commission found limitations in the competing tests.
- Case
- Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) Sena versus Eknath Shinde’s Sena
- Main dispute
- Control of Shiv Sena’s original party name and election symbol
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Election authority
- Election Commission of India
- Court’s question
- Why both factions were not allowed to contest on their own strength
- Issue raised
- Whether a legislative-majority test is safe when MLAs face disqualification