In a dramatic turn of events, the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena has launched a legal battle by submitting a letter to the Supreme Court urgently seeking a hearing for its plea against the Maharashtra Speaker’s order recognizing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction as the ‘real Shiv Sena.’ The move comes in response to Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s ruling, which legitimized Shinde’s faction based on the majority support of party MLAs.
Expressing deep concern, the Thackeray faction highlighted the potential disqualification of its MLAs if they do not adhere to the Speaker’s order, as per the impugned judgments. The faction has urgently requested a stay on the Speaker’s decision, emphasizing the constitutional values and democratic principles at stake.
The Special Leave Petitions filed by the Uddhav Sena challenge four orders by the Speaker dismissing disqualification petitions. The faction argues that the Speaker’s decision is “patently unlawful and perverse,” accusing him of upending the Tenth Schedule, known as the ‘anti-defection law.’
The letter to the top court underscores the rebellion against the 2018 Leadership Structure of Shiv Sena, where Uddhav Thackeray enjoyed overwhelming support, openly defied by Eknath Shinde and other MLAs. The Thackeray faction contends that such defiance incurs disqualification under the Tenth Schedule.
As the political crisis intensifies, Uddhav Thackeray’s urgent plea reflects the gravity of the situation, characterizing the continued presence of Shinde faction MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as a challenge to constitutional principles. The Supreme Court now stands as the battleground for this high-stakes clash within Shiv Sena.