The Sena vs Sena hearing began before the Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narvekar, regarding the ineligibility of 16 MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, at 3 pm on Monday in the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan here.
Both the Opposition and the ruling parties are keeping their eyes on this hearing which will decide the future political course of Maharashtra. An order has already been issued for CM Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray faction to appear in the court of the Assembly Speaker, raising the possibility of intense cross-examination, with both the groups making claims and counter-claims. The future of the rebels is going to be decided on this basis only. Notice has already been issued to all 54 MLAs.
The Opposition is alleging deliberate delay in the decision on the ineligibility case of 16 rebel MLAs, including the CM. On the other hand, Sanjay Raut said that the Supreme Court’s orders are not being respected. The Speaker should quickly take a decision regarding the disqualification of the MLAs. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said that a timely decision will maintain faith in constitutional institutions, posts and democracy. He has demanded live telecast of the hearing of the case.
CM Shinde and the MLAs accompanying him had formed a new government in the state with the support of BJP after the rebellion in Shiv Sena in June 2022. After this, the Uddhav Thackeray faction had filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding to declare 16 MLAs, including Shinde ineligible, accusing them of not following the party whip, on which the Supreme Court has given the responsibility of taking the decision to the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly. But the Supreme Court is angry over the delay in this case.
After the Supreme Court’s rebuke in the ineligibility matter, the pressure on Speaker Rahul Narvekar to take a quick decision has also increased. In the hearing held on 18 September, the Supreme Court had strongly targeted Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar for not taking a decision on the case of ineligibility of 16 MLAs, including Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.
Supreme Court Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had given instructions to the Speaker to initiate action in this regard by giving a deadline of one week. With this, it is now believed that the countdown for the Speaker’s decision on the ineligibility of the MLAs has started. In view of this, two days ago, Speaker Narvekar went to Delhi and took advice from Advocate General Tushar Mehta.
Soon, time for the hearing will be declared by the Speaker as per the Supreme Court’s order. The next hearing has been scheduled on 13 October. The petition was moved by Shiv Sena (UBT) to club all the petitions and conduct one hearing, to which Shiv Sena lawyers (from Eknath Shinde’s camp) objected and said they want the petitions to be heard individually and with evidence with respect to each petition will be filed.