Overview

• A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant with Joymalya Bagchi scheduled Uddhav Thackeray’s challenge to the January 2024 assembly speaker’s decision for an August hearing.
• Senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged expedited consideration of the case ahead of municipal elections in Maharashtra.
• Thackeray’s group argues that the speaker’s January 2024 ruling was unlawful because it rewarded defectors by granting them the bow and arrow emblem.
• The dispute follows the Election Commission’s February 2023 recognition of Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena through assignment of the bow and arrow symbol.
• Both factions seek clarity on the bow and arrow identity to solidify their standings before the state’s local body contests.