'New' Shiv Sena demands Bharat Ratna for Savarkar in its first executive meeting

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday held its first national executive meeting days after the Election Commission allotted them the party name and bow and arrow symbol. Among the resolutions proposed in the meeting was the demand for Bharat Ratna for Hindutva idealogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

The national executive meeting was chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Another proposal discussed at the meeting was renaming Churchgate Railway Station after former Union Finance Minister Chintamanrao Deshmukh. Incidentally, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena has also demanded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, for Savarkar.

Last week, the Election Commission of India allotted the name Shiv Sena and the party symbol of bow and arrow to the Eknath Shinde faction. This came as a huge blow to the Uddhav Thackeray faction, which has been fighting to stake a claim over the party's name and symbol after Shinde's rebellion last year.

The national executive meeting was chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Another proposal discussed at the meeting was renaming Churchgate Railway Station after former Union Finance Minister Chintamanrao Deshmukh.