The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that that it will start the final hearing on January 21, 2026 in the ongoing dispute between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions of the Shiv Sena, the ANI reported.
The case relates to the allocation of the ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol and the dismissal of disqualification petitions filed against MLAs from the Shinde group by the Maharashtra Speaker.
The long-running political and legal battle began after Eknath Shinde broke away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in June 2022, leading to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena vs Shiv Sena: Supreme Court says it will begin final hearing on January 21, 2026, the dispute between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde group of Shiv Sena in relation to allotment of ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol and dismissal of disqualification pleas by Maharashtra…
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2025
Following the split, Shinde had become Chief Minister of Maharashtra with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Election Commission of India later recognised Shinde’s faction as the `real` Shiv Sena and granted it the party’s traditional ‘bow and arrow’ symbol — a decision strongly challenged by the Thackeray camp. Uddhav Thackeray then moved the Supreme Court, arguing that the decision was unfair and unconstitutional.
Further details will be updated.