Shiv Sena Crisis: Uddhav Files Plea SC To Flag Maharashtra Speaker-Eknath Shinde Meet

Uddhav Thackrey in his affidavit has objected to the meeting between Shinde and Maharashtra speaker just three days before deciding on the Shiv Sena MLA defections petitions.

From left: Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Narwekar, Devendra Fadnavis ( Image Source :PTI )

Uddhav Thackrey on Monday filed a fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court flagging Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar's meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on January 7.

Thackrey in his affidavit has objected to the meeting between Shinde and Maharashtra speaker just three days before deciding on the Shiv Sena MLA defections petitions.

The Shiv Sena has filed the affidavit to "place on record" in the top court, which it described as highly improper behaviour on part of the Speaker.

खुलेआम हमारे नजर के सामने प्रजातंत्र की हत्या होने जा रही हैं, उसे हम स्वीकार कर सकते हैं? pic.twitter.com/zsdp4KQjGJ

— ShivSena - शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) January 9, 2024

"It is respectfully submitted that it is highly improper for the Hon’ble Speaker to meet Sh. Eknath Shinde just three days prior to deciding the disqualification petitions, inter alia, filed against Sh. Shinde. The Speaker, as the adjudicating authority under the Tenth Schedule, is required to act in a fair and impartial manner. The conduct of the Speaker must inspire confidence and justify the constitutional trust reposed in its high office. However, the present act of the Hon’ble Speaker raises questions about the fairness and impartiality..." the writ petition filed by Sunil Prabhu on behalf of Shive Sena-UBT read.

The petition added: "Act of the Hon’ble Speaker in meeting Sh. Eknath Shinde just prior to the deadline for the decision at his residence is in violation of the legal maxim that justice should not only be done but should also be seen to be done."

Thackrey who leads the UBT faction of Shiv Sena addressed the media at his residence Matoshree and asked how Narwekar met Shinde just three days before giving a verdict on disqualification petitions against him and 38 MLAs. The verdict is to be announced on January 10 at 4 pm. Rahul Narwekar met CM Eknath Shinde on Sunday, January 7.

Shiv Sena's UBT faction has moved the apex court, objecting to a meeting between assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, ahead of the verdict in the Shiv Sena MLA disqualification case. Shivesena went through a spilt amid high political drama after Shinde and several MLAs rebelled against then-chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. This caused the fall of the then Maharashtra government led by Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprised the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress. Shinde formed the government with the BJP following the split. Later, NCP faction Ajit Pawar also joined the Shinde-BJP government.

Supreme Court reprimanded the Maharashtra speaker on several occasions and issued directions to him in September to lay down a timeline for the timely disposal of the pending disqualification petitions. Both the Shinde faction and Thackrey faction had filed disqualification petitions against each other. The bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud had to finally fix a timeline and they decided on the deadline of December 31, 2023. The Speaker had to announce his verdict by then. Finally, on December 15, the Supreme Court extended the date and gave Narwekar till January 10, 2024, to give his judgment on disqualification petitions filed by the rival Shiv Sena factions led by CM Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray.