Eknath Shinde

Speaking on the motion of thanks to Governor Ramesh Bais' address, Shinde said that merely one seat is not Maharashtra and "those who lose by-elections sweep the general elections". Taking a jibe at Ajit Pawar, the CM said the MVA is celebrating its victory in just one bypoll, but it forgets that the BJP has won three states (Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura).

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing the Shinde faction, that the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution attaches a disqualification, "the moment you have a rival faction and it absolutely makes no difference whether you are saying, we are in the same party and we represent the same party...".

The Chief Whip of Sena-UBT and MLA from Dindoshi, Sunil Prabhu said that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had sent a letter to the government on their decision to boycott the tea party. "Despite this, the CM's comment is regretful and is disrespectful to the Legislative Assembly. How can the Opposition legislators tolerate this," he asked.

The top court pointed out that the Governor, by considering the letter by the Shine-led faction, recognized the split in the party. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing the Shinde-led faction, assisted by advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh, submitted before a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said: "We'll entertain the petition, we'll issue notice." The top court sought a response from Shinde group in two weeks. The Chief Justice asked senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing Shinde, said: "Mr Kaul, if we take this after two weeks.

Shinde presided over his party's first-ever national executive in Mumbai late on Tuesday, soon after the faction led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) challenged the ECI move in the Supreme Court, with the hearing scheduled Wednesday (February 22). At the meeting, the Shiv Sena leaders, MPs, MLAs and others unanimously authorised Shinde.

"I have spoken with Chavan and also with the DGP. I have given instructions to carry out a detailed investigation into the issues raised by Chavan," Shinde said. Chavan made a shocking claim that he was allegedly shadowed and under the "watch" of some persons and how someone had forged his letterhead as the PWD Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

The EC observed that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena on which former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray was placing reliance is undemocratic. "While applying the 'Test of party Constitution', the Commission found that the party constitution on which the respondent (Uddhav Thackeray faction) was placing strong reliance is undemocratic," said the Commission in its 78-page order issued on Friday.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the number will be officially accorded the status on February 19, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "Jai Jai Maharashtra Maza" (Hail, Hail Maharashtra) was written by the famed Marathi poet, late Raja Badhe (1912-1977).

Making the announcement, Bharatiya Janata Party's Mumbai Suburban District Guardian Minister M.P. Lodha said the decision was taken recently at a meeting with the Collector. "Finally, victory of the Right! Ordered removal of name Tipu Sultan from the park in Malad after considering protests by Sakal Hindu Samaj and demands by BJP MP Gopal Shetty," said Lodha.