Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence on Tuesday (January 9) that the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government would maintain its stability, news agency PTI reported. His comments come a day before the expected verdict from the assembly speaker concerning disqualification petitions against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several other Shiv Sena MLAs.
"The speaker will take a proper and legal decision. Our side is strong. The government formed by us (BJP and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde) is legally strong. We expect that we will get justice from the Speaker...Our government was stable yesterday and it will remain stable tomorrow as well," Fadnavis was quoted as saying by PTI.
Highlighting the legitimacy of the alliance government, the senior BJP leader voiced hope that the speaker's decision would provide justice to their side, as per the report.
Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar is set to announce the verdict on the disqualification petitions related to Chief Minister Shinde and other MLAs, who had previously split from the Shiv Sena in June 2022, PTI reported citing officials from Vidhan Bhavan.
Initially, the Supreme Court had mandated a deadline for the ruling by December 31, 2023, but later extended it to January 10. Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis stated, "The government, formed by the BJP and Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde's leadership, is legally robust. We anticipate a just decision from the Speaker, affirming our government's stability both yesterday and in the future," as reported by PTI.
The rift within the Shiv Sena emerged in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde and a group of MLAs rebelled against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, resulting in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, which also included the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress. Consequently, both factions led by Shinde and Thackeray filed counter petitions, invoking anti-defection laws against each other.
Vidhan Bhavan officials indicated that the anticipated verdict would be announced after 4 pm on January 10, as the Speaker's office finalises the decision, the report said.