NEW DELHI, Dec 30: The Shiv Sena today retracted from its earlier stance that Bal Thackeray was its president for life and told the Election Commission that he would have a five-year tenure while agreeing to amend its constitution to bring inner party democracy.In a letter to the Commission sent yesterday, Thackeray said the December 20 resolution paving the way for his continuance as Shiv Sena pramukh (chief) for life would not be implemented.
He said only elections held on that day for 14 office bearers for a five-year term would be put into effect. In a seven-page order issued late this evening, the Election Commission said Sena's decision to set up a sub-committee to amend the provisions of the constitution and other decisions to bring inner party democracy had ``substantially complied'' with the directions issued by the Commission in this regard to all parties.
The Commission has allowed a four month period till April 30, to the Sena to effect necessary changes in its constitution.
The Sena
organisational polls issue had triggered a war of attrition in the Election Commission with G V G Krishnamurthy demanding that the party should not be treated on a different footing.
While going on a protest leave, Krishnamurthy accused the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M S Gill of showing a favouring the Sena, a charge denied by the CEC.
Though Krishnamurthy resumed duty following intervention by President K R Narayanan, he has chosen not to attend the Commission hearings on the issue.
Today's order signed by Dr Gill and Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh said, ``the commission would like to record its appreciation of the cooperative stance taken by the Shiv Sena on this issue and welcomes the party unequivocally committing itself to bring about inner party democracy with its elected office bearers at all levels in the party's hierarchy and effecting amendments to its existing constitution.''
The Sena delegation contended that since polls were round the corner and all their energies were directed
towards that end, they were making a ``reasonable request'' for time till April 30, 1998, to make changes in their constitution.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
