Thackeray-Shinde Feud Likely To Enter Maha Budget Session Starting Today, Oppn To Corner Govt

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), will look to corner the Shinde-BJP government which is set to present its first Budget in this session.

New Delhi: The ongoing political and legal battle between the rival Shiv Sena groups is expected to enter the floors of the Maharashtra Assembly as its Budget session begins on Monday. The budget session will begin with newly-appointed Governor Ramesh Bais making his first address to the joint sitting of the state legislature.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the finance and planning portfolio, will present the first Budget of the Shinde-led government in the Assembly on March 9.

Notably, the Opposition including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), and the Congress boycotted the tea party hosted by the government on the eve of the Budget session on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took a dig at the Opposition parties for boycotting the customary tea party and said it was good those having ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim did not turn up for it.

The dig was perhaps referring to former state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who is currently in jail following his arrest last year in a money-laundering case linked to the activities of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), will look to corner the Shinde-BJP government over issues of public interest during the nearly one-month-long session which is set to be stormy.

The Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde, buoyed by the key Election Commission (EC) ruling in its favour, and the Uddhav Thackeray faction are locked in a bitter feud over their claim on the 56-year-old party and legacy of its founder Bal Thackeray.

Going by the legislative majority, the EC recently allotted the Shiv Sena name and the 'bow and arrow' poll symbol to the Shinde group while recognising the split in the party, which was rocked by a rebellion in June last year.

After the EC ruling, the Shinde camp petitioned Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar and took control of the Shiv Sena legislature party office in the Vidhan Bhavan complex in south Mumbai. Similarly, the Shinde camp feels the whip it issues will be binding on legislators including those loyal to Thackeray.

Amid the Shiv Sena row, Narvekar on Thursday said he has not got representation from any group claiming to be a separate party in the Lower House.

The Speaker told PTI that there is only one Shiv Sena with 55 MLAs which is led by Shinde and legislator Bharat Gogawale has been recognised as its chief whip.

Narvekar has approved the appointment of Shinde as the legislature party leader.

However, senior advocate and former Maharashtra Advocate General Shrihari Aney contended that since the EC has recognised the split in the Shiv Sena, the Shinde camp's whip will not be applicable to pro-Thackeray MLAs.

The Thackeray faction will have to seek recognition as a separate group in the legislature, he added. 

The session will end on March 25.