The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday, 17 February, ordered that the party name 'Shiv Sena' and the party symbol 'bow and arrow' will be retained by the Eknath Shinde faction, thus recognising it as the 'real' Shiv Sena.
The commission also stated that the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction should retain the interim party name Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the party symbol flaming torch.
This decision is a major victory for the Shinde camp and a great setback for the Thackeray faction.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde welcomed the decision calling it the victory of democracy.
"It is the victory of ideologies of Balasaheb and Anand Dighe, of our workers, MPs, MLAs, public representatives and lakhs of Shiv Sainiks," he told mediapersons.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, on the other hand, slammed the order, taking to Twitter to express his displeasure.