The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction temporary relief ahead of the upcoming budget session, saying its MLAs are for the moment not bound by the Election Commission-approved Shiv Sena’s whip. The court, however, refused to stay the ECI order recognising the Eknath Shinde group as the real Shiv Sena.

The protection, along with the liberty to use the interim party name and poll symbol—Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the flaming torch—will be till further notice. The ECI had earlier this week ruled in favour of the Shinde faction, allotting it the party name Shiv Sena, and the bow-and-arrow symbol. On Tuesday, the Shinde faction leaders took possession of the Shiv Sena offices in the state legislature and Parliament. The Uddhav faction moved court against the ECI decision.