Shiv Sena: Deals worth Rs 2,000 crore struck to purchase Shiv Sena name, poll symbol: Sanjay Raut | India News

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that “deals worth Rs 2,000 crore” have been done so far to “purchase” the Shiv Sena party name as well as its ‘bow and arrow‘ poll symbol.

In a major setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp, the Election Commission (EC) on February 17 allotted the party name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the symbol ‘bow and arrow’ to the faction led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde.
In June last year, Shinde had rebelled against Uddhav and toppled his MVA government by convincing around 40 MLAs to defect and join forces with the BJP.
‘Will give proof soon’
Alleging that the MLAs who defected were offered Rs 50 crore each, Raut said his claim was backed by proof which he would disclose soon.

“I believe… deals and transactions worth Rs. 2,000 crores have been done so far to get the election symbol and name … This is a preliminary figure and 100% true … Soon many things will be revealed. This has never happened in the history of the country,” Raut tweeted in Hindi.
He also told reporters that a builder close to the ruling dispensation had shared this information with him.
Decision was bought: Raut
In a 78-page order regarding the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the EC allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the “flaming torch” poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly bypolls in the state.

The Commission observed in its order that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been “mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all”. It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence.
Raut labelled the EC decision as a “murder of democracy”, and on Sunday tweeted that the “BJP has no scruples” and would go to any lengths to “safeguard its investment of Rs. 2,000 crore”. He added that the EC’s order “does not inspire confidence”.

“I am telling the nation that the way the Shiv Sena name and party symbol were snatched from us is not justice. It’s a business and a trade deal. It was bought … This decision has been bought,” Raut told reporters.
Raut said the Uddhav Thackeray faction is the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, and his party would approach the Supreme Court. “Our ‘bow and arrow’ has been stolen. People from higher authorities are involved. We will find the kingpin and bring them to the public. We will get a new party sign later but before that, we’ll expose these thieves.”
“The BJP had blamed Shiv Sena for using Bal Thackeray’s name for votes. Now they will use Balasaheb’s name for the votes. For this, they have stolen our ‘bow and arrow’. Shiv Sena is not an ordinary party, we will remain forever and will again come into power in future,’ said Raut.

Exuding confidence in winning elections with the ‘torch’ symbol, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav has challenged Shinde to contest the elections with the “stolen bow and arrow”, stating that the ‘battle has begun’. Uddhav Thackeray’s father Bal Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966.
“Thieves were given the holy ‘bow and arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ (mashaal) can be taken away. I challenge them – if they are men, come in front of us even with the stolen ‘bow and arrow’, we will contest the election with the ‘torch’. This is our test, the battle has begun,” Thackeray said.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch Rs 2,000 crore deal struck to ‘purchase’ Shiv Sena name and symbol: Sanjay Raut