On May 15, 2026, the Supreme Court of India expressed its displeasure with the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions of the Shiv Sena for blaming the judiciary for delays in their ongoing dispute regarding the party symbol 'bow and arrow'. Chief Justice Surya Kant criticized the factions for making irresponsible statements to the media while continuously seeking adjournments in court. He emphasized that such behavior undermines the court's authority and called for a more responsible approach from the litigants. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 30, 2026, after a prolonged period of nearly three years since the case began. The dispute centers on a February 2023 order from the Election Commission that granted the name and symbol to the Shinde faction, a decision contested by the Thackeray faction, which argues that these symbols are vital to the party's identity established in 1985. The political ramifications of this dispute are significant, as the Shinde faction's recent electoral successes have bolstered its position within the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar.