Supreme Court Postpones Shiv Sena Name and Symbol Case Hearing to January 23
Mumbai, 21st January 2026: The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing in the long-pending dispute over the Shiv Sena party name and its ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol, rescheduling the matter for January 23 — a date that coincides with the birth anniversary of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
The hearing, which was originally listed for January 21, could not be taken up after proceedings in an earlier case concerning the Aravalli hills extended longer than expected. As a result, the court deferred the Shiv Sena matter, prolonging the uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the party name and symbol.
The legal battle traces its origins to the political split within the Shiv Sena in 2022, when Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with 40 MLAs, broke away from the unified party. Following the split, the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognised the Shinde-led faction as the official Shiv Sena and allotted it the party name and the iconic bow-and-arrow symbol.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who now leads the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, subsequently challenged the Election Commission’s decision before the apex court. Both factions continue to assert their claim over the legacy of the party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray, making the case politically consequential.
The matter has attracted heightened attention in Maharashtra, particularly in the aftermath of recently declared municipal election results. Political observers note that the Supreme Court’s ruling could influence future alliances and power dynamics in civic bodies across the state.
The adjournment is being viewed as a setback for the Uddhav Thackeray camp, which had been pressing for an early resolution. Hearings related to name-and-symbol disputes involving both the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were listed on Wednesday, raising expectations of substantive progress.
With the case now deferred once again, political uncertainty continues, and focus has shifted to January 23, when the Supreme Court is scheduled to resume hearing the matter.
