'They Can Issue Whatever They Want, Won't Follow': Thackeray Faction On Shiv Sena's Whip

Shiv Sena issued a whip to its party members on Monday to which Uddhav Thackeray's camp said that they will not follow the whip.

Maharashtra minister Uday Samant (Left) and Uddhav Thackeray camp leader Bhaskar Jadhav (Right) ( Image Source :ANI | Twitter )

Shiv Sena Row: The tussle between the Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde camp over the Shiv Sena name and symbol doesn’t seem to be lowering any time soon, despite the Supreme Court agreeing to hear the matter. 

Now, doing what the Uddhav Thackeray faction mentioned in the top court, Shiv Sena issued a whip to its party leaders on Monday. Confirming the same to ANI, Maharashtra minister Uday Samant said, “Our party has issued a whip. This isn't for taking action against anyone but only about ensuring the presence of all party members in the House. Work is done as per SC order. Nothing will be done in violation of court order.” 

Reacting to the whip, Uddhav Thackeray camp leader Bhaskar Jadhav said that their side of leaders will not follow the whip and they (Shinde camp) can issue whatever they want. 

“People of Shiv Sena being threatened with a whip. When we didn't fear the manner in which Uddhav Thackeray's chair was taken away after joining forces with BJP, why will we be scared of this whip? They can issue whatever they want, won't follow whip,” Jadhav was quoted as saying by ANI. 

People of Shiv Sena being threatened with whip. When we didn't fear the manner in which Uddhav Thackeray's chair was taken away after joining forces with BJP,why will we be scared of this whip?They can issue whatever they want, won't follow whip: Bhaskar Jadhav, Thackeray faction pic.twitter.com/rMvzRngFcY

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023

This comes after the Supreme Court on Wednesday gave protection to the Thackeray faction's MPs-MLAs from any whip that could be issued by CM Shinde's side. The Uddhav camp had raised doubts that the opposite side could issue a whip to disqualify the members of the party. 

However, the counsel for the Shinde faction told the bench that it would not issue any whip or initiate the process to disqualify the lawmakers of the Thackeray faction in the meantime. The top court also issued notice to the Shinde camp to issue any whip.

Uddhav camp leader Anil Parab confirmed the same and had said, "Looking at the working style of the ruling alliance, there was a fear that Shiv Sena led by Shinde may issue whip to our MPs-MLAs with a motive to disqualify them. Now, we have received protection of the apex court from possible arbitrary decisions or actions by Shinde and his party by issuing a whip."

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the petition of the Uddhav Thackeray-led bloc challenging the Election Commission's decision on the real Shiv Sena. The top court, however, refused to stay the Election Commission order recognising the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and allotting the 'bow and arrow' poll symbol to it. 

"Will entertain petition, issue notice," the Supreme Court said and listed the matter after two weeks. 

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Uddhav Thackeray faction, insisted the Supreme Court to grant interim relief and urged it to pass a status quo order. 

However, the top court refused to stay the Election Commission's order, saying, "Something which is a part of the order we can decide upon. We cannot stay an order at this stage. They've succeeded before the ECI." 

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said the Uddhav camp can continue to use the temporary name and election symbol it has been granted by the EC. 

The Election Commission, in a 78-page order, has recognised the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena. The poll panel, however, allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the "flaming torch" poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly bypolls in the state. 

In its ruling, the EC noted that MLAs backing Eknath Shinde got nearly 76 per cent of votes polled in favour of 55 wining Shiv Sena candidates in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly election. 

The Shiv Sena split into two factions after Shinde revolted against Uddhav Thackeray last year, leading to the collapse of the MVA government. Shinde then went on to form the government with BJP's support and was made the Chief Minister. More than 40 of the Shiv Sena's 55 MLAs backed Shinde, forcing Thackeray to resign as Maharashtra Chief Minister.