Political turmoil in Maharashtra continues

In Maharashtra, as expected, the legal fight between the Shiv Sena and the fraction group led by Eknath Shinde has begun. The Shinde camp has moved the Supreme Court over the deputy speaker’s disqualification notice. Two petitions have been filed challenging the disqualification notice issued by the deputy speaker and the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party. Shiv Sena counsel and senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Devdutt Kamat while talking to reporters in Mumbai said, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has initiated the proceedings against the 16 MLAs under para 2 (1) A of the Tenth Schedule which governs 'disqualification on grounds of defection'.

The Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Narhari Zirwal had served the disqualification notices to the 16 MLAs, which includes Eknath Shinde. The Deputy Speaker has asked these MLAs to reply to the notices by 5.30 pm Monday. However, the MLAs have sought more time from the Deputy Speaker to reply to these notices. The Deputy Speaker has rejected the No-Confidence Motion filed against him by the dissidents on the grounds that an unauthorised person brought the communication of the No Confidence Motion through a courier. The Deputy Speaker has said, until and unless he figures out whether the document is genuine; he has rejected the same.

Meanwhile,  Uday Samant, Maharashtra minister of higher and technical education, joins Eknath Shinde faction in Guwahati. He is the eighth minister from Uddhav Thackeray's cabinet to join the rebels, led by Shinde. On the other hand, the loyalists of party president and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took out a two-wheeler rally in Mumbai and held protests in parts of Pune against the dissident leaders on Sunday.Sena workers and its local functionaries, led by the Pune city unit president Gajanan Tharkude, staged 'jode maro' (hit with footwear) protests at two places - outside Balgandharva auditorium and in Kothrud - and raised slogans against the rebels. 

On Saturday, Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said Shiv Sena workers should understand that he was fighting to save the party from the clutches of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).Shinde's appeal came after Sena workers loyal to party president and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray staged protests against the rebel MLAs led by him by defacing their banners, hurling stones in some places and vandalising the office of an MLA in Pune.