KINGAONKAR, J.

( 1 ) RULE.

( 2 ) LEARNED Counsel for the Respondents waive service. By consent, Rule made returnable and heard forthwith so as to decide both the petitions at the stage of admission.

( 3 ) BY these petitions, the Petitioners, who are the district Party President and elected member of shivsena Party, seek to challenge the order dated 28th march, 2006 passed by Respondent No. 29 - Collector giving recognition to group of Respondent Nos. 1 to 28 as an independent group called "swabhimani Sindhudurg vikas Gat" in Zilla Parishad, Sindhudurg.

( 4 ) A brief resume of the facts leading to the present controversy may be stated. Sindhudurg Zilla Parishad elections were held in January / February, 2002. It appears that Shivsena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had formed Pre-Poll alliance and contested the said election on symbols of respective parties and as per nomination of their candidates. Respondent Nos. 1 to 28 were nominated as candidates of Shivsena Party and were elected. In all, 30 candidates of Shivsena Party were elected in the said Zilla Parishad elections and out of them group of Respondent Nos. 1 to 28 is major chunk. The Respondent No. 14 - Ashok Sawa