'SC Judgment Will Decide Whether Democracy Exists In Country': Uddhav Camp On Maharashtra Crisis

The MVA, which was ousted from power in Maharashtra last year following a rebellion, said the judgment will determine if the judiciary 'functions' independently.

With the Supreme Court set to deliver its verdict on Thursday on the Maharashtra political crisis, which led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, the MVA said the judgment would determine if democracy "exists" in the country and judiciary "functions" independently.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "The Supreme Court judgment will decide whether there is democracy in the country, legislatures are functioning as per the Constitution, judiciary is functioning independently. We are hopeful that we will get justice. I am confident that the Supreme Court of the country is independent."

Mahesh Tapase, the spokesperson of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the MVA along with Congress, said the judgment would be crucial for Indian democracy and the Constitution. He hoped that the judgment would strengthen the Constitution, PTI reported.

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

Aaditya Thackeray said the party had full faith in the judiciary. "Abiding by the Constitution will only benefit the country," ANI quoted Thackeray as saying.

Shiv Sena spokesperson and MLA Sanjay Shirsat stressed that there was no nervousness in the Eknath Shinde camp. "We have seen the results…the Election Commission gave us the party name and symbol and we won the first stage," Shirsat said.

The judgment will decide the fate of the Sena-BJP government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Last year, Shinde and 39 MLAs rebelled against the undivided Sena party leadership, which eventually resulted in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and the party's split.

Shinde was sworn in as CM on June 30, a day after Uddhav Thackeray quit the post. BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the deputy CM. 

On February 17 this year, the Election Commission (EC) had recognised the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena based on the majority in the Maharashtra Assembly. The Shinde faction has 40 MLAs in the Assembly as against the Thackeray faction's 15.