Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, leading the Shiv Sena faction, has approached the Supreme Court challenging Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s decision to recognize Eknath Shinde-led faction as the ‘real Shiv Sena.’ Thackeray’s faction had also sought the disqualification of 16 legislators from the Shinde camp, a plea rejected by the Maharashtra speaker.
On January 10, Narwekar declared the Shinde faction as the authentic Shiv Sena following the party’s split in 2022. The speaker asserted that Thackeray lacked the authority to remove Shinde, the current Chief Minister, from the position of legislature party leader, citing the Shiv Sena constitution.
Furthermore, Narwekar emphasized that party leadership couldn’t exploit the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law) to suppress dissent or indiscipline within the party.
The Shinde group, backed by 37 out of 54 Sena MLAs during the party split in June 2022, garnered support. In early 2023, the Election Commission allocated the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol to the Shinde-led faction.
Characterizing the speaker’s ruling as an affront to the Supreme Court, Thackeray expressed his dissatisfaction, asserting that the speaker failed to comprehend the mandate. He highlighted the speaker’s deviation from the Supreme Court’s framework, accusing him of establishing his own court and verdict. Thackeray, the Sena (UBT) chief, had resigned as Chief Minister in 2022 when Shinde rebelled with BJP support.