Setback for Uddhav Thackeray as Shinde faction declared 'real Shiv Sena'
IN a major setback for Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Wednesday ruled that the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was the "real Shiv Sena" when the rival groups emerged on June 21, 2022.
The ruling on disqualification petitions filed by both the Shinde-led Sena and the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray against each other's MLAs has been announced by Narwekar also stated that Sunil Prabhu of the Sena (UBT) is no longer the whip since June 21, 2022.
"The 1999 party constitution submitted to the Election Commission was the valid constitution for deciding the issues. This constitution made the 'Rashtriya Karyakarini' (national executive) the supreme body," Narvekar said.
Earlier in the day, Sena MLAs from both factions were present in Mumbai and gathered at the Balasaheb Bhavan party office by 3 pm, roughly an hour before the disqualification case verdict. The MLAs visited Vidhan Bhavan after a meeting at their respective party offices.
Late on Tuesday, an urgent meeting between Chief Minister Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar was underway at the Chief Minister's official residence, Varsha bungalow. Newly appointed State DGP Rashmi Shukla and Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar were also present at the meeting.
Hours before the verdict, Sena (UBT faction) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday alleged "match-fixing" in the case.
Talking to reporters, Raut said, "Match-fixing is going on in this case. The Chief Minister is going to Davos. He will no longer remain in office if this decision goes against the Chief Minister, but he knows the decision is going to be in his favour. The Vidhan Sabha speaker has shown him the decision. That is why he is going to Davos..."
Shinde, along with Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Smriti Irani and Hardeep Singh Puri, and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are set to attend the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, slated for January 15 to 19.
Later, Chief Minister Shinde said he would make an official statement post 4 pm (when the verdict is pronounced) and asserted confidence in the Speaker's decision, saying it should be in his favour.
"We have the symbol and the party name, which was given by the Election Commission. Some are making match-fixing allegations," Shinde said, referring to Raut.
The Chief Minister also spoke about his meeting with the Speaker ahead of the verdict and said, "Their (UBT faction) MLAs also met the Speaker. He (Speaker) came to meet us for constituency work. It was an official meeting. We won in ECI because we had the majority. We have 67 per cent majority in the assembly with us and 75 per cent majority in Lok Sabha," Shinde asserted.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) of Uddhav Thackeray denounced in the Supreme Court the "highly improper" meeting between Shinde and state Speaker Narwekar, barely three days before the deadline set by the top court for the verdict.
According to news reports, Narwekar met Shinde at 'Varsha', the chief minister's official residence, on January 7.
"Even today, our whip is binding on them (Uddhav faction). The Speaker should give a decision in our favour on the merits. Our government is not unconstitutional. They are unconstitutional and they know they are going to lose and are hence making such statements," the Chief Minister said on Wednesday.
Speaker Narwekar, who also spoke to reporters before the verdict, said, "The 10th Schedule interpretation will be reflected in the order."
