New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to a public debate on which faction is the “real Shiv Sena”. The development comes a day after Thackeray-led Sena group moved the Supreme Court against Narwekar’s verdict that stated Shinde-led faction was the “real Shiv Sena”.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray said, “We have moved the Supreme Court against the judgment given by those fraud people. I challenge Rahul Narvekar and (Eknath) Shinde to appear before people and answer the question of the real Shiv Sena. If I was not Shiv Sena chief, why did BJP take my signature for support in 2014 and 2019 after Lok Sabha elections?”
Meanwhile, slamming the move, Maharashtra Speaker Narwekar said his verdict was based on Supreme Court guidelines.
“On 10th January, I read the judgment on disqualification of MLAs. For the last six days, some political leaders and workers have been misleading people about my judgment. Shiv Sena (UBT) is using derogatory language against me. They don’t even respect the Assembly Speaker. It’s really harmful to the democratic structure,” news agency ANI quoted Narwekar as saying.
“Supreme court never said that appointment of Bharat Gogawale as whip of Shinde faction was wrong. Supreme Court said that the Speaker must recognise the real Shiv Sena. Because I received claims from both sides, I gave my judgment according to the Supreme Court order,” Speaker Narwekar further said.
Alleging CM Shinde of “unconstitutionally usurping power”, Shiv Sena (UBT) faction moved the top court against the Speaker’s ruling on Monday.
“The balance of convenience is in favour of the petitioner and against the respondents. Eknath Shinde has unconstitutionally usurped power and is heading an unconstitutional Government in Maharashtra. This is extremely prejudicial and causing irreparable harm and injury to the petitioner, as well as to the general public,” their plea mentioned, as reported by news agency PTI.