A decision may be taken soon in the matter of eligibility and ineligibility of MLAs of Eknath Shinde Sena and Uddhav Thackeray Sena. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar will hear the matter from September 14. Speaking to journalists, Speaker Narvekar said that the proceedings would be taken in a constitutional manner. Everyone will be given full time to express their views. There will be no injustice to anyone. The hearing will begin at 12 noon on August 14 in the Central Hall of Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in the presence of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar. This matter is related to the eligibility and ineligibility of 40 MLAs of Shinde Sena and 14 MLAs of Uddhav Sena. Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat has sent notice to all 54 MLAs for hearing on July 8 itself. MLAs from both groups will have to be physically present for the hearing. 34 petitions will be heard before the Assembly Speaker.
During the hearing, the plaintiff and defendant MLAs will be given a chance to present evidence and present their views. Each petition will be heard separately and the concerned MLAs will be called at that time.
After the split in Shiv Sena, out of 56 MLAs, 40 MLAs sided with Eknath Shinde and the remaining 16 MLAs sided with Uddhav Thackeray. Similarly, out of 18 MPs who were elected in the Lok Sabha on Shiv Sena’s election symbol ‘bow and arrow’, 13 MPs joined the Shinde faction, while five MPs decided to stay with Uddhav. Later an MLA was elected under the banner of Uddhav Sena. This matter is with the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.
Let us tell you that on February 17 this year, the Election Commission legitimized the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena and allotted it the symbol of bow and arrow. The Supreme Court also said on May 11 that Thackeray’s position as chief minister could not be restored because he had resigned before the floor test. The court had pointed fingers at the functioning of the then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The court had asked the Assembly Speaker to take a decision on the eligibility and ineligibility of the MLAs.
The fate of many MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be decided in the hearing of the Assembly Speaker. Along with this, the future of the government will also be decided. Along with Shinde faction, the fate of Thackeray faction is also at stake. Only after the hearing will it be decided whether Uddhav Thackeray’s party will remain or not. After deciding the eligibility and ineligibility of the MLAs, the results of the Election Commission are also expected to change.
Uddhav Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that the Assembly Speaker should have completed the hearing and given the decision. He said that they caused so much delay by keeping aside all the rules of the legislature.
