Shiv Sena outlet “Saamana” said Rahul Narwekar, the speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, was handed a “script by his bosses in New Delhi” when he decided to acknowledge the Eknath Shinde side as the “real” Shiv Sena in the disqualification petition dispute.
Following the party’s split in 2022, two opposing Shiv Sena groups filed 34 applications demanding the disqualification of 54 MLAs. Narwekar rendered a decision on these cases.
“The Speaker of the State Assembly ruled in favor of ‘Chors’ (thieves) yesterday. This is nothing more than the murder of the law, which Narwekar has committed with the support of his Delhi overlords. He said early on January 10 that the ruling would be historic, but it has seriously embarrassed democracy. He passed up a fantastic chance to make history, the Samana editorial said.
“Everyone is aware that those MLAs first went to Surat, then Guwahati, Goa, and finally returned to Mumbai,” the editorial said. In the state assembly, they did not adhere to the party’s “Whip.” Shinde used to reassure all these rebel MLAs that “Maha Satta” (super power) was on our side, but Rahul Narwekar, the person holding the constitutional office, also backed them and added that the BJP had nothing to do with this. The people of Maharashtra would not spare anybody who supported these rebels.”
The editorial also asserts that the Shiv Sena UBT knew the Speaker would rule in favor of traitors who defected against the Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray. The speaker read the lengthy decision on January 10th, using a script that his superiors in Delhi had provided him. He also issued incorrect decisions, such as those issued by the Indian Election Commission. What authority does the Speaker of the State Assembly have to declare who the true Shiv Sena members are? That someone who had switched parties three times in the previous five years rendered this decision was startling. He has turned democracy into a farce.
The BJP was also criticized by the Sena spokesman for being “autocratic.” Narwekar ruled in “favour of traitors on the basis of numbers, which they got in the House,” according to the report.
Shiv Sena MLAs believed that the party’s ideological stance was weakened by breaking with the BJP when Uddhav Thackeray formed the Maha Vikas Agadhi cabinet in 2019 by creating an alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Along with 34 other MLAs, Shinde revolted against Uddhav Thackeray, who had approved a resolution designating Ajay Choudhari as Shinde’s replacement as the party’s head in the Maharashtra House. The party whip was named Sunil Prabhu. A resolution endorsing Shinde’s leadership and designating Bharatshet Gogawale as chief whip was also approved by the group.
After failing to persuade the Sena rebels, Thackeray tendered his resignation and Shinde took the chief ministerial oath.
