New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has asked Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to submit documentary evidence to prove that their respective factions have majority members in the Shiv Sena, reported news agency ANI.
Earlier this week, MLAs from the Uddhav Thackeray faction had filed a fresh plea in the Supreme Court which challenged the disqualification proceedings initiated against them under the constitutional scheme.
Turmoil in the Shiv Sena began last month when Eknath Shinde turned rebel along with 39 other legislators pushing the Maha Vikaas Aghadi government — an alliance between Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress — to minority in Maharashtra.
Later Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the post of Chief Minister and MLA and a day after, Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the new Maharashtra CM with Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana which is hearing the matter had granted an interim relief to the legislators from the Uddhav Thackeray faction on July 11 as it asked the Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar not to proceed with the plea seeking their disqualification as sought by the Shinde group on the ground of defying the party whip during trust vote and the election of speaker.