New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday defended the Election Commission's authority to determine which group represents the "real" Shiv Sena, arguing that the poll panel was entitled to examine the party's constitution and organisational structure under Article 324.

The submission was made before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, which resumed hearing challenges to the EC's February 17, 2023 decision recognising the Shinde faction as the original Shiv Sena and allotting it the party name and 'bow-and-arrow' symbol.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the Shinde faction, argued that the poll panel was empowered under Article 324 to exam...