Eknath Shinde, a Shiv Sena MLA and Minister and a rebel against the government, took the matter to the Supreme Court on Monday to challenge the disqualification notice that Deputy Speaker had issued to him and 15 other legislators.
According to counsel for the Maharashtra government opposing the anti-party activities outside the House of Assembly, the rebels can be removed.
Sadly, the party led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, that’s ruled Maharashtra for the past eight years, has further suffered a setback with the decision of Uday Samant, the Maharashtra Minister for Technical and Higher Education who is a key Sena player in the Konkan region, to join the rebel camp in Guwahati.
Towards a noble cause (Shiv Sena) ?
Aaditya Thackeray is the only member of the Uddhav Thackeray camp left in the State Assembly, with Mr. Shinde supporting nine Sena ministers. There are two more Thackeray loyalists on the Legislative Council: Anil Parab and Subhash Desai.
The appointment of Sena legislator Ajay Choudhari as leader of the Legislative Party was also challenged, and a motion of no confidence against Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal failed as well.
Likewise, Thackeray’s loyalists are gearing up for a war against the rebels. As of today, 16 rebel MPs have already been disqualified by their party, according to Arvind Sawant.
According to the 10th Schedule, a complaint has been filed against 16 MLAs by counsel Devadatt Kamat, representing the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress.
He explained that the member was still disqualified, even if they were engaging in anti-party activity outside the House
Shiv Sena representatives called several meetings, but rebel legislators did not attend them. Mr. Kamat said, “Their letter writing against the MVA government made them liable for prosecution as they were participating in anti-party activities. Thus, they are disqualified.
He pointed out that the claim that the rebel lawmakers will retain their seats because they possess two-thirds of the total number of Sena lawmakers applies only if the rebels merge with another party.
The fact that their party has already committed an anti-party act and they still haven’t merged makes them ineligible,” he said.
Aaditya Thackeray declared the rebels lacked courage as he escalated the offensive against them. ” It would perhaps have been wise for Shinde and everyone else to stage the revolt somewhere in Maharashtra, if those [the rebels] were truly loyal Shiv Sainiks,” Mr. Aaditya said at a rally in Kalina.’’
It will still be the Shiv Sena that will win the election in the end, even if all Sena MLAs join the rebels. Shiv Sainiks are still with the party. Uddhav Thackeray still has a strong will. Mr. Aaditya said he would remain Chief Minister for the next 25 years.
His observation that this was the first political revolt involving members of the ruling party wanting to sit in opposition amused the rebels.
Final Statement
In its place, the BJP-led Centre today provides security to these rebel MLAs, which it should have given to Kashmiri pandits. In a State afflicted by floods, they pay a food bill of $8 lakh to $9 lakh per day. In Assam, people are suffering due to floods, but you [rebel MLAs] are enjoying yourselves,” he said.
Read more – Govt. has responsibility to protect Shiv Sena MLAs, says Shinde on Maharashtra Political Crisis
