Akola: The ongoing legal battle over the Shiv Sena’s party name and election symbol is likely to benefit the BJP irrespective of the Supreme Court’s verdict, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar claimed on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at Yashwant Bhavan in Akola, Ambedkar said there was a possibility that the ‘bow-and-arrow’ symbol could be frozen, forcing both Shiv Sena factions to contest elections on separate symbols. Such a development, he warned, could trigger large-scale defections of MLAs and MPs from both factions to the BJP.

“Whether the Supreme Court verdict goes in favour of one side or the other, the BJP will benefit politically. If the symbol is frozen, both Shiv Sena factions will have to contest elections with new symbols. The question is how long their MLAs and MPs will remain with them without the support of the party symbol,” Ambedkar said.

He alleged that the BJP could exploit such a situation to weaken both factions. “There could be large-scale attempts to split the MLAs and MPs after the symbol is frozen. Amit Shah and the BJP will take advantage of the situation,” he said.

Ambedkar also questioned whether the Election Commission has the authority to adjudicate internal disputes within political parties.

Referring to the Sadiq Ali case, he argued that the Election Commission should not be vested with the power to settle internal disputes within political parties. According to him, the jurisdiction of civil courts must also be considered in such matters.

The Shiv Sena’s party name and symbol dispute is currently before the Supreme Court after the Election Commission’s decision was challenged.

Ambedkar also spoke about the ongoing Maratha and OBC reservation movements and their possible impact on upcoming elections.

He said OBC votes could play a decisive role in the forthcoming elections. The future course of the Maratha reservation agitation would depend, among other factors, on whether sections that had previously supported activist Manoj Jarange continued to stand with him with the same intensity.

Ultimately, however, the direction of the political battle would be determined by voters, Ambedkar said. “People and voters will ultimately decide the outcome,” he said.