Big Jolt for Uddhav as the President proclaims the Shinde faction as “Real Shiv Sena” – Firstpost

The president of the Maharashtra legislative assembly, Rahul Narwekar, ruled on Wednesday in favor of the Eknath Shinde faction while announcing his verdict on the dispute between the two groups in war Shiv Sena.

In a great shock to the UBT faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, the speaker proclaimed the Eknath Shinde group as the “real political party Shiv Sena”.

“The Shinde faction was Shiv Sena’s real political party when rival factions emerged on June 21, 2022. I find that the leadership structure of the SHIV SENA reflected in a letter dated February 27, 2018, available on the website ‘ECI, is a relevant structure leadership which must be taken into account in order to determine which faction is the real political party, “he told members of the Assembly during his speech.

“In my opinion, the 2018 leadership structure (subject with ECI) was not according to the constitution of Shiv Sena. The party leader Shiv Sena according to the constitution of the party cannot withdraw anyone from the party. Uddhav Thackeray therefore abolished Eknath Shinde or all leader of the party party according to the Constitution of the Party. Thus, the abolition of Eknath Shinde by Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 is not accepted on the basis of the SHIV Sena constitution, “he added.

“The UBT faction has not placed any equipment in the file or even suggest that any meeting of the Rashtriya Karyakarini was called where any decision concerning the real political party has been resolved.”

The verdict was announced more than 18 months after the Shiv Sena underwent a vertical split, a political development which led to a change of guard in the state. In June 2022, Shinde and several deputies rebelled against the Minister of the time, Thackeray, leading to a split in the SHIV Sena and the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also included the PCN and the Congress. Crossed petitions were filed by the factions of Shinde and Thackeray, against the legislators of the other, before the speaker who requests measures against each other under anti-defection laws. Out of 56 deputies from the SNA undivided, 40 are with SHINDE. The Supreme Court, in May of last year, ordered the president of the Maharashtra Narwekar to rule quickly on the pleadings. On December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court had extended the deadline of the president of the Maharashtra Narwekar to decide on disqualification petitions from December 31 to January 10. While extending the deadline, the court said that the sacred nature of the 10th appendix to the Constitution should be maintained. The 10th appendix of the Constitution is designed to prevent the defection of elected deputies and named parliamentarians and legislative of the states of political parties on which they win, and contains strict provisions against it by virtue of which they can be disqualified. The Apex Court had also asked the president of the Maharashtra to decide the Petition of the NCP to request the disqualification of nine deputies of the Ajit Pawar group on January 31, 2024. In July of last year, the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP also joined The government led by Shinde. The electoral commission had given the name “Shiv Sena” and the “bow and arrow” symbol to the faction led by Shinde, while the one led by Thackeray was called the SHIV Sena (UBT) with a fiery torch as a symbol. The Maharashtra assembly polls are due in the second half of 2024.

With PTI entries