Opposition criticises Maharashtra Speaker’s verdict, BJP congratulates Shinde

As Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar delivered a crucial verdict on the cross-petitions filed by the rival Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other’s MLAs, swift reactions ensued from leaders of various political parties

As Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar delivered a crucial verdict on January 10 on the cross-petitions filed by the rival Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other’s MLAs, swift reactions ensued from leaders of various political parties.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said the verdict favouring Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena faction was “not surprising” but urged the rival group led by Uddhav Thackeray to challenge it in the Supreme Court.

In a significant relief to Mr. Shinde, Mr. Narwekar declared his faction as the “real Shiv Sena” when rival groups emerged in June 2022. He said that Mr. Thackeray lacked the authority to remove Mr. Shinde from the post of the Legislature Party leader as the party constitution made the ‘Rashtriya Karyakarini’ (national executive) the supreme body.

Mr. Pawar, an ally of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Mr. Thackeray, suggested that based on the Speaker’s ruling, the Thackeray-led Sena faction should approach the Supreme Court. “Mr. Thackeray will have to go to Supreme Court… he is hopeful of getting justice there,” he said, highlighting the collective anticipation of the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi that the verdict would not be in favour of the Thackeray faction.

“The people in the government, including Chief Minister Shinde, had on several instances spoken on what sort of decision would be coming and it shows they had an inkling about the verdict (going in their favour) and that assurance used to get reflected in their statements,” the former Union Minister said.

Stating that the verdict was unconstitutional, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said, “It’s an undemocratic judgment… and democracy is in danger after this judgment. The BJP will face problems from this verdict.” He expressed surprise that the Speaker did not disqualify MLAs from any faction.

Mr. Patole’s party colleague and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said Maharashtra’s sympathy lay with Mr. Thackeray, and it was a fight for saving democracy in the country.