Maharashtra Assembly Speaker rules Eknath Shinde faction as legitimate Shiv Sena
- Newsband
- 10 Jan, 2024
Rejects disqualification pleas; No one can break Uddhav Thackeray, says Vitthal More, Navi Mumbai Jilha Pramukh (UTB)
In a significant development today, 10th January, 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared that the faction led by Eknath Shinde is the true Shiv Sena, dismissing disqualification pleas against its members. The ruling follows a factional split within the party on June 22, 2022, with Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray at the helm of rival groups.
Earlier in 2022, both factions had filed 34 petitions seeking the disqualification of 54 MLAs. The Uddhav Thackeray (UBT) faction argued that the decision of the pakshapramukh (party chief) represents the party's will, while the Speaker disagreed.
Speaker Narwekar maintained that Eknath Shinde's faction, holding an overwhelming majority of 37 out of 55 MLAs, was validly appointed as the party leader. He cited the 1999 Constitution, which diluted power from the party chief, unlike the 2018 Constitution not on the Election Commission's record.
The Speaker emphasized that Uddhav Thackeray lacked the authority to remove Eknath Shinde as the party leader. Refusing to disqualify 40 members from Shinde's faction, he reasoned that Sunil Prabhu ceased to be the authorized whip of the party on June 21, making the meeting called by him unauthorized. The Speaker asserted that dissent within the party is protected by freedom of speech and expression.
Addressing concerns raised by the UBT faction, Speaker Narwekar stated that Bharat Goghavle was validly appointed as the whip. However, he declined to disqualify Uddhav-led members for violating Goghavle's whip, noting the Shinde faction failed to prove the service of the whip to UBT faction MLAs.
The Supreme Court, dissatisfied with the delay, had initially set a December 31, 2023 deadline for the Speaker's decision, later extended to January 10, 2024. The court emphasized the need to maintain the dignity of its judgment in the matter.
Speaking to Newsband, Vitthal More, Navi Mumbai Jilha Pramukh (UTB), said “This is an insult to the Supreme Court’s decision. This is simply dictatorship. We will further fight for justice”.
Speaking further the veteran politician said, “This dirty tactics cannot break Uddhav Thackeray”.
