Mumbai, Sep 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has sharply criticised the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT for demanding that the party’s ‘Bow and Arrow’ election symbol be frozen, saying the move was an attempt to undermine the legacy and ideology of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday ahead of the ongoing Supreme Court hearing in the Shiv Sena and election symbol dispute, Shinde said the ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol held immense emotional and political significance for Balasaheb Thackeray.
“The ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol was dearer than life itself to Balasaheb Thackeray. He used to worship it in his personal shrine,” Shinde said. He alleged that those now seeking to freeze the symbol had earlier “frozen” Balasaheb’s ideology, Hindutva, the mandate of Maharashtra’s people and even the party’s Constitution.
Shinde said the legal dispute involved several important issues, including the Constitution, the Shiv Sena’s organisational constitution and the powers of the Election Commission. He said questions raised by Shiv Sena-UBT would be addressed when lawyers representing his faction begin their arguments before the Supreme Court.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said state chiefs of the Shiv Sena would meet in Delhi to discuss organisational issues and matters concerning the party’s functioning.
Shinde further spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, saying Modi had consistently held the Maratha warrior king in the highest regard. He cited the incorporation of Shivaji Maharaj’s ‘Rajmudra’ into the Indian Navy’s ensign as an example of the Prime Minister’s recognition of his legacy.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding the removal of Prime Minister Modi’s photograph from a government polytechnic in Pune, Shinde said even Modi would not appreciate being compared with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He added that photographs of the President and Prime Minister are displayed in government offices in accordance with established protocol.
On the Maratha reservation issue, Shinde said the MahaYuti government remained committed to ensuring justice for the Maratha community without causing injustice to any other section of society. He highlighted measures undertaken during his tenure as Chief Minister, including the provision of 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community.
He also pointed to the constitution of commissions to facilitate the issuance of Kunbi certificates and initiatives aimed at improving economic opportunities for members of the community. These included interest-free loans through SARTHI and the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation.
Shinde said the state government remained positively inclined towards extending every benefit that was legally permissible and fair to the Maratha community. He stressed that the government would continue working within the framework of law while balancing the interests of different sections of society.
The Deputy Chief Minister also appealed to Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is currently on hunger strike, to adopt a constructive approach and cooperate with the government in resolving the issues raised by the community.
