The Supreme Court has scheduled a final hearing for the ongoing disputes regarding the symbols of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for January 21, 2026. This decision follows petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) rulings concerning the official recognitions of these political factions.

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), commonly known as Shiv Sena (UBT), has initiated legal action contesting the ECI's decision to recognize the faction led by Eknath Shinde as the authentic Shiv Sena. The Shinde group was granted the iconic ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol, prompting UBT to seek judicial intervention.

The bench, which comprises Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, has also agreed to hear a petition from NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, against the ECI's decision to allocate its official symbol to a rival faction led by Ajit Pawar. The court noted that the legal matters surrounding these political parties are interrelated and thus decided to address them in tandem.

During the court proceedings, Justice Kant directed the court master to refrain from scheduling any significant matters on January 22, enabling the potential continuation of the hearings the following day if necessary.

Senior Advocates Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Devadatt Kamat represented Shiv Sena (UBT), while Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and NK Kaul appeared for the Eknath Shinde faction. The UBT’s petition specifically challenges the ECI's February 2023 order, which awarded the party name and official symbol to Shinde's faction, stemming from the turmoil that ensued after the political split in Shiv Sena during 2022.

The upcoming hearing stands to clarify the symbol disputes brought forth by two significant political factions in the Indian state of Maharashtra, potentially influencing their standing ahead of future electoral contests. Legal experts will be monitoring this case closely as it evolves, given its implications for political identities and affiliations in the region.