Maharashtra MLAs' Disqualification: Speaker's Big Verdict Today — 10 Points

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar will deliver his verdict on the cross-petitions filed by Uddhav and Shinde camp seeking disqualification of each other's legislators.

Big verdict awaited on pleas seeking disqualification of MLAs filed by Shinde and Uddhav camp against each other ( Image Source :PTI )

Political temperatures have once again risen in Maharashtra ahead of a crucial verdict by the Assembly speaker on the cross-petitions by the two factions of the Shiv Sena seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs after the vertical split. The outcome of Wednesday's verdict will decide the way forward for the Eknath Shinde government and the regional outfit's rival camps. 

In June 2022, Shinde along with several other legislators went rebel against the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray resulting in a vertical split of the party and toppling of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state which had NCP and Congress also as its allies. 

Cross-petitions were filed by both the camps seeking action under anti-defection laws and the Supreme Court had in May last year directed Speaker Rahul Narwekar to adjudicate on the pleas expeditiously. 

1. Ahead of the verdict, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) flagged a "highly improper" meeting between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Speaker Narwekar. As per news reports, the two met at 'Varsha', the chief minister's official residence on January 7. 
2. In an application filed in a pending petition, Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu said, "It is respectfully submitted that it is highly improper for the Speaker to meet Eknath Shinde just three days prior to deciding the disqualification petitions, inter alia, filed against Sh. Shinde." 
3. Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis exuded confidence ahead of the verdict saying that the Shiv Sena-BJP government will remain stable. The BJP leader stressed that the alliance is "legal" and hoped the speaker's ruling will give justice to them.
4. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, "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." 
5. CM Shinde also remained confident ahead of the verdict saying numbers were stacked in favour of the Shiv Sena led by him. 
6. "Numbers are important in democracy. We have a majority in the assembly and Lok Sabha. The Election Commission has allotted the official name and symbol to our party. I am confident and I hope that the decision would be based on merit," he said.
7. Speaker Narwekar is scheduled to deliver his much-awaited verdict in the case at 4pm on Wednesday at Vidhan Bhawan. 
8. The Supreme Court had earlier set December 31, 2023 as the deadline for the Speaker to deliver the verdict but was subsequently extended till January 10. The apex court said that the sanctity of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution should be maintained.
9. The 10th Schedule of the Constitution aims to prevent defection of elected and nominated MPs and MLAs from political parties on whose ticket they win, and contains stringent provisions against it under which they can be disqualified.
10. Following the vertical split within the party, the Election Commission gave the 'Shiv Sena' name and 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Shinde-led faction, while the one headed by Thackeray was called Shiv Sena (UBT) with a flaming torch as its symbol.