Shiv Sena Split: Supreme Court Pulls Up UBT Faction For Irresponsible Media Statements

The Supreme Court today flagged irresponsible statements being made in the media by the politicians of the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena faction alleging that the court is not taking up its matter pertaining to the dispute with the Eknath Shinde led group.

CJI Surya Kant led bench was asked by the counsel for UBT faction to fix a date for final hearing in the matter. "Stop your petty politicians from making statements, here you are asking for date and in media you say court is not taking up the matter," a miffed CJI said in response.

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for the UBT faction told the bench that the lawyers were not in support of the statements being made.

"Alright we will fix a date, it will go in July only. Once your matter starts, all other matters will have to be adjusted..we will notify the date in July..", the bench added.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Eknath Shinde said, "Our side has not made any statements."

The CJI went on to add, "We keep sitting till 4 PM, tell me if we are idle..". Court went on to order that the plea filed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) challenging the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena and to grant it the party’s iconic ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.

In July 2025 the Court had decided to hear the dispute involving the election symbol and official name of Shiv Sena between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray. The Bench had said that it would like to hear the case finally and put an end to the dispute. Uddhav Thackeray faction had moved Supreme Court against the Election Commission's order allowing Eknath Shinde led faction to use the name 'Shiv Sena' and the symbol of 'bow and arrow'.

In 2023, supreme court had issued notice in the matter and allowed the liberty granted by the Election Commission to the Uddhav Thackeray faction to use the flaming torch symbol till the completion of the upcoming bye-elections. The impugned order was passed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel in a plea filed by Eknath Shinde.

The order of the Election Commission of India came after Eknath Shinde had approached the Election Commission with a plea to decide who the real Shiv Sena is. Earlier the Supreme Court had rejected the plea of Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena to seek a stay on the proceedings of the Election Commission. Eknath Shinde, leader of the Shiv Sena had rebelled against the former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray with 40 other MLA's which led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Case Title: Uddhav Thackeray vs. Eknath Sambhaji Shinde & Anr.

Hearing Date: May 15, 2026

Bench: CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi