In a heated exchange on Friday, the rival factions within Shiv Sena entered a debate over the alleged 'correct' email address of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a hearing concerning disqualification petitions filed against each other's MLAs before the state assembly Speaker. The Shinde-led faction argued that the email address used by then-chief whip Sunil Prabhu in June 2022, amid Shinde's challenge to Uddhav Thackeray's party leadership, was not the official one designated for formal communications.
"When an email address is for public use, there is a separate email address (for official purposes) because many people contact it...This confusion on whether any email address exists or not is delaying justice," asserted Thackeray camp lawyer Asim Sarode.
In response, Mahesh Jethmalani, the senior advocate representing the Shinde-led Sena, referenced the Shiv Sena (UBT) and clarified that the contentious email sent by Prabhu was directed to an address listed in a booklet containing information about the MLAs. Jethmalani pointed out that in June 2022, a different email address was documented in the booklet against Eknath Shinde's name.
Disqualification Petitions On MLAs
In October, Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar disclosed that the Supreme Court had issued directives for expeditious action on the disqualification petitions. The Court mandated Narwekar to render a decision on pleas filed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction against several MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, by December 31.
Additionally, the apex court directed the Speaker to adjudicate on disqualification pleas lodged by the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) against a group of legislators from the rebel Ajit Pawar faction by January 31, 2024.
Significantly, the Court rejected the Maharashtra Speaker's proposal to conclude proceedings on these disqualification petitions by February 29, 2024. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, underscored that procedural delays should not impede the timely resolution of these matters.