EC Freezing Shiv Sena symbol "freezing democracy": Kapil Sibal

New Delhi: MP and senior advocate called the Election Commission of India to freeze Shiv Sena's symbol, "freezing democracy". On Saturday, ECI had frozen the "bow arrow" symbol of the party after the conflict between the two factions within thickened.

Sibal tweeted on Sunday, "Election Commission Behind the scenes is the Government's submission Upfront, they call it the Election Commission! Shame on Institutions who do the Government's bidding!" he said.

"Election Commission Freezes Sena Election symbol Amounts to "freezing" Democracy The "bow and arrow" belongs to the real Shiv Sena led by Udhav The "Defectors Platter" for serving the BJP belongs to Shinde's faction," he said.

Freezing the symbol in an interim order, ECI said on Saturday, "The Commission hereby makes the following Interim Order to cover the purpose of the current by-elections and to continue till the final determination of the dispute into the matter."

The polls authority said that neither the Eknath Shinde faction nor Uddhav Thackeray would be allowed to use both name, Shiv Sena, and the "Bow and Arrow" symbol reserved for it.

It said, "Both the groups shall be known by such names as they may choose for their respective groups, including, if they so desire, linkage with their parent party 'Shiv Sena'; and both the groups shall also be allotted such different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the Election Commission for the purpose of the current by-elections."

Further, it had mandated both factions to find names for their groups, providing three options in the order of preference, out of which the commission will approve one. The deadline for the same was given as October 10 at 1:00 pm.

Also, choices for symbols also must be given to be allotted for candidates.

ECI said, "They may indicate the names of three free symbols, in the order of their preference, any one of which may be allotted to their candidates by the Commission."