New Delhi: Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal on Saturday issued disqualification notice to the 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs of Eknath Shinde-led camp currently staying in Assam’s Guwahati city, Asian News International (ANI) reported. All the 16 MLAs to whom the disqualification notice has been issued are supposed to file their written replies by Monday.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state’s Environment, Tourism and Protocol Minister Aaditya Thackeray left the Shiv Sena Bhawan in Mumbai after the culmination of the party's national executive committee meeting.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut after the meeting said the people will come to know by this evening what actions will be taken against those who have left the party.
“The work that CM Uddhav Thackeray has done is commendable. We will all fight the elections under his leadership,” he added, the news agency reported.
Raut said the Chief Minister has in the meeting said that the leaders, who have left should not ask for votes in the name of Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray.
“Ask for votes in the name of your father. Mahavikas Aghadi is united,” he added.
Raut informed the Shiv Sena has passed six resolutions, adding the party has decided to follow the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray and won’t compromise with ideology of a united Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena leader further said strict action will be taken against those who have betrayed the party.
“CM Thackeray has the authority to take action against those who left,” he added.
Hinting at “legal action” against those who have used Balasaheb Thackeray's name for their self-centred politics, Raut said: “Those who have left can't use our patriarch’s name.
Earlier in the day, the rebel MLAs led by Shinde named their group as ‘Shiv Sena Balasaheb’.
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This comes as the Shiv Sena MLAs backing the Maharashtra Chief Minister has pressed for the disqualification of the rebel legislators from the assembly.
Shinde has alleged the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had withdrawn the security cover provided to his family and those of the other MLAs camping with him in Guwahati.
Shinde alleged malicious withdrawal of security cover to the family members of the MLAs.
He tweeted the letter addressed to Thackeray, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Director General of Police (DGP) Rajnish Seth and all the Police Commissioners.
“That we are current sitting MLAs, however, the security provided to us at our residence as well as to our family members as per the protocol has been illegally and unlawfully withdrawn, as an act of revenge. Needless to mention, this sinister move is another attempt to break our resolve and arm twist us to give into the demands of the MVA government comprising the NCP and INC goons,” Shinde said in the letter.
The Maharashtra Home Minister has, however, denied Shinde’s claims and said allegations being levelled to this effect are “mischievous and false”.
“Neither the Chief Minister nor the Home Department has ordered the withdrawal of security of any MLA. The allegations being levelled through Twitter are false and completely baseless,” he said.