Supreme Court Urges Shiv Sena (UBT) to Prioritize Maharashtra Local Elections Amid Symbol Dispute

The Supreme Court advises Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) to focus on Maharashtra local elections, despite seeking urgent resolution on the 'bow and arrow' symbol issue. Amid tensions with Eknath Shinde's faction, the court suggests deferring the plea hearing until post-summer break for practical reasons.

The Supreme Court has asked the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction to concentrate on the forthcoming Maharashtra local body elections. This request follows the faction's urgent plea regarding the allocation of the 'bow and arrow' election symbol to the rival Eknath Shinde group.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Shiv Sena (UBT), urged the court for an early hearing. A bench led by Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, however, indicated that the matter could only be addressed after the court's summer recess due to time constraints. Sibal emphasized the symbol's significance in influencing rural voters.

Justice Kant queried the significance of party symbols in local elections, to which Sibal responded that it holds considerable sway in Maharashtra. The court reminded Sibal to allow elections to proceed unhindered, suggesting a vacation bench might consider the case if prioritized and urgent. This follows a prior apex court decision allowing local polls after a five-year delay over reservation issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)