HC JUNKS UDDHAV PLEA AGAINST EC ORDER FREEZING SENA NAME, SYMBOL

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed a plea by former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray against the Election Commission of India (ECI)’S interim order freezing his “bow and arrow” party symbol, even as it directed the poll body to decide the dispute “expeditiously”.

Justice Sanjeev Narula said a detailed order with the reasoning for its decision, in denying relief to Thackeray, will be available after two-three days.

“Petition is dismissed... There is no interdict on the matter by the Supreme Court. It would, therefore, be in the interest of the parties and general public that the matter is decided expeditiously (by the ECI). The ECI is directed to decide the dispute as expeditiously as possible,” the judge said after hearing all the parties, including the ECI and rival camp led by Eknath Shinde. On Monday, the court had questioned the petitioner why it should not wait for ECI’S final decision on the dispute between the factions.