Shiv Sena-BJP Can Prove Majority In Assembly If Needed: Maha BJP Chief Ahead Of SC Verdict

Bawankule further said that the next assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and that the BJP alliance will emerge victorious.

Ahead of the Supreme Court's verdict on a batch of petitions filed by rival factions Uddhav Thackeray and CM Eknath Shinde in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis on Thursday, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday claimed the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance can prove majority if needed by securing 184 plus votes in the 288-member Assembly.

"Even the Opposition leader (Ajit Pawar) and Sharad Pawar know that there is no threat to the incumbent Eknath Shinde-BJP government. But if the need arises, we will prove majority by winning more than 184 votes in the state Assembly," Bawankule was quoted as saying by PTI on the possible SC verdict.

He also cautioned that commenting on the SC ruling before it is pronounced, is akin to the contempt of court after some Opposition leaders were reportedly saying that CM Shinde would resign before the apex court's ruling.

Bawankule further said that the next assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and that the BJP alliance will emerge victorious.

"The next government will also be formed by the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. We will together win 48 Lok Sabha seats and also win the Assembly elections (due in the second half of 2024)," he claimed.

The five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha on March 16 had reserved its judgements on a batch of petitions filed by both sides.

After the apex court in June, 2022 had refused to stay the Governor’s direction to Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority in the assembly, he resigned paving the way for Eknath Shinde to come to power in Maharashtra in alliance with the BJP.