Tensions within the Shiv Sena party have reached new heights as the Supreme Court has admonished Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for perceived delays in the resolution of disqualification petitions against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the legislators supporting him. The court has asserted that a decision on these matters must be reached before the impending assembly election, emphasizing the importance of complying with their orders.
The Supreme Court’s intervention follows Speaker Narwekar’s apparent procrastination in the adjudication of these disqualification pleas, a situation that has raised concerns about the court’s dignity and the adherence to the Constitution of India.
The court has made it clear that if Speaker Narwekar does not provide an expedited schedule, they will establish a timeline for the process. During a recent hearing, the bench declared, “We are concerned about maintaining the dignity of this court. Our orders must be complied with.” The court will revisit the case on Monday and, if necessary, could impose a two-month deadline for a resolution.
Notably, the disqualification disputes within the Shiv Sena party emerged last year when Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs defected to support the BJP, subsequently forming a government. Disqualification petitions were filed by various Sena factions against one another.
Speaker Narwekar issued notices to a total of 54 MLAs: 40 from the Shinde-led Sena and 14 from the Thackeray faction. However, one MLA, Rutuja Latke of Sena (UBT), was not served a notice as she was elected after the Shiv Sena split last year.
The disqualification petitions were initiated by Sunil Prabhu, Chief Whip of the undivided Shiv Sena, on May 11, this year. The Supreme Court ruled in May that Eknath Shinde would continue as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and it would not reinstate the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government led by Thackeray, citing his resignation without facing a floor test in the aftermath of Shinde’s rebellion.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been accusing Speaker Narwekar of intentionally delaying the decision on the disqualification pleas. Narwekar, in response, stated that he would not rush into a decision to avoid a “miscarriage of justice.”
The Supreme Court’s continued involvement underscores the high-stakes political drama within Maharashtra and the imperative for a resolution ahead of the forthcoming assembly election. The court’s firm stance emphasizes the need for a prompt and constitutionally sound conclusion to this ongoing dispute.
Sources By Agencies
