Eknath Shinde faction gets 'two swords and a shield' as poll symbol
New Delhi, Oct 11: The Election Commission on Tuesday allotted 'two swords and a shield' as the poll symbol to the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Shinde faction, which is now named as 'Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena', will be able to use the symbol for the Andheri East assembly bypoll, should it decide to contest the election scheduled for November 3.
Shinde welcomed the allocation of the poll symbol and asserted that his group was the true torchbearer for the staunch Hindutva ideology laid down by Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
"We will be the shield that protects the innocent and the sword that destroys the rogues," he said on Twitter.
In a letter to Shinde, the Commission said it has decided to declare 'Do Talwarein aur Ek Dhal (Two Swords & Shield)' to be a free symbol and allot it to the candidate set up, if any, by the Shinde-led group in the current bye-election.
The Shinde faction had suggested 'peepal tree', shield and sword' (dhal-talwar), and 'sun' as its choice of poll symbols.
The Commission turned down all the three suggestions made by the Shinde-group contending that they were not in the list of free symbols.
However, it allotted the poll symbol two swords and a shield' to the Shinde-led group noting that it resembled the dhal-talwar' (shield and sword) sought by the outfit.
The 'two swords and shield' symbol was earlier allotted to the People's Democratic Movement, which was de-recognised as a state party in 2004 and subsequently de-listed in 2016, the Commission said.
Turning down the claim to the 'sun' symbol, the poll authority said the Shinde faction's choice resembled the poll symbols sun (without rays)' and rising sun' of the Zoram National Party and DMK respectively. It also said that the Shinde faction's choice also seemed to resemble free symbols of apple', cauliflower' and football'.
On Saturday last, the Commission had barred the factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde from using the party name Shiv Sena' and its 'bow and arrow' symbol for the November 3 Andheri East assembly bypoll.
The interim order said the party name and symbol stand frozen till the dispute between the two factions on which is the real Shiv Sena is adjudicated by the EC.
On Monday, the Commission had allotted 'flaming torch' (mashaal) election symbol to the Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena and recognised it as 'Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray'.
It recognised the Shinde faction as 'Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena' (Balasaheb's Shiv Sena).
Shinde had rebelled against Thackeray's leadership, claiming the support of 40 of the Shiv Sena's 55 MLAs and 12 of its 18 members in the Lok Sabha.
Following Thackeray's resignation as chief minister of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government, Shinde became chief minister with the support of the BJP.
आम्हीच वंदनीय हिंदुहृदयसम्राट शिवसेनाप्रमुख बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांच्या प्रखर हिंदुत्वाच्या विचारांचे खरे वारसदार....
— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 11, 2022
सज्जनांच्या रक्षणासाठी बनूनी #ढाल, दुर्जनांच्या संहारासाठी हाती धरू #तलवार....#बाळासाहेबांची_शिवसेना
निशाणी : #ढाल_तलवार pic.twitter.com/QsatzmPdCE
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
