In a setback for former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar dismissed the Shiv Sena's plea to disqualify the 13 MLAs of the Shiv Sena-UBT faction on Wednesday. The plea, filed by Shiv Sena Chief Whip Bharat Gogawale, was found to have significant inconsistencies and discrepancies, leading to its rejection by the Speaker.
As a result, Uddhav Thackeray has lost control over the original Shiv Sena, founded by his late father, Balasaheb Thackeray, to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Despite this development, Thackeray's legislative group of 13 MLAs, including his son Aditya Thackeray, has not been disqualified. They will continue to serve until the remainder of their terms, with Assembly elections scheduled later this year.
While the ruling disappointed leaders of the Shiv Sena-UBT faction, including Aditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, who criticized it as expected, Aditya Thackeray called the decision a "blatant murder of the Constitution and democracy." He announced the party's intention to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Raut accused the ruling of being part of a larger conspiracy to undermine the Shiv Sena founded by Balasaheb Thackeray. He emphasized the party's resilience, stating that the Shiv Sena cannot be destroyed by external influences, and vowed that the Shiv Sena-UBT would continue its legal battle.
Describing it as a "black day" for the country and the Marathi community, Raut questioned the Speaker's credentials, as well as those of the Chief Minister and Chief Whip. He raised concerns about how, after 40 MLAs defected, the entire party could be handed over to a rival faction.
(With Agency Inputs)
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