ECI issues notice to Thackeray's Shiv Sena over party's campaign song mentioning Jai Bhavani slogan

Image Source : PTI (FILE IMAGE) Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray

The Election Commission has issued a notice to Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction concerning the party's official campaign song. The song features the slogan "Jai Bhavani," prompting the commission to raise objections over the use of a religious reference.

The ECI said, "Bhavani" is a term commonly associated with the Hindu goddess, and the commission expressed concern over the inclusion of such a religious slogan.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said his party would not remove "Jai Bhavani" and "Hindu" words from his party's new anthem.

Thackeray said he has received a notice from the ECI to remove the words "Jai Bhavani" and "Hindu" from his party's new anthem, but he won't abide by it.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray said asking for the removal of "Jai Bhavani" from the anthem was an insult to Maharashtra.

Thackeray said his party has come up with an anthem to popularise its new poll symbol, "mashal" (flaming torch), and the ECI has asked for the removal of the words "Hindu" and "Jai Bhavani" from it.

"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded Hindavi Swaraj with the blessings of goddess Tulja Bhavani. We are not asking for votes in the name of the goddess or Hindu religion. This is an insult and will not be tolerated," Thackeray said.

The Sena UBT chief said he will continue the practice of saying "Jai Bhavani" and "Jai Shivaji" in his public meetings.

"If the poll body takes action against us, they will have to tell us what they did when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who while campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly elections, had asked people to say Jai Bajrang Bali and press the button on EVMs. Amit Shah had told people to vote for the BJP to get Ram Lalla darshan for free in Ayodhya," he said.