Top court to hear crucial for Maharashtra’s political future after Shiv Sena split

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on January 22 the petition filed by the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena challenging the decision of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, which recognized the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena.

This hearing is important for the political future of Maharashtra, as it will decide which party will lead the government in the state.

The Thackeray faction has termed Narvekar’s decision as biased and wrong. He has said that Narvekar based Shiv Sena’s 1999 constitution, whereas Shiv Sena had revised its constitution in 2018. The Thackeray faction has said that Narvekar has violated Section 43(1)(a) of the party constitution by not disqualifying the Shinde faction.

Shinde faction has justified Narvekar’s decision. He has said that they have the majority of 37 out of 55 MLAs, hence they are the real Shiv Sena.

The Supreme Court hearing will make it clear who will lead Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Major issues raised in the petition

• The Uddhav camp has termed Narvekar’s decision as biased and wrong.
  He has said that Narvekar based Shiv Sena’s 1999 constitution, whereas Shiv Sena had revised its constitution in 2018.
• The Uddhav faction has said that Narvekar has violated Section 43(1)(a) of the party constitution by not disqualifying the Shinde faction.

Possible outcome of the hearing

There are two possible outcomes of the Supreme Court hearing:

• If the Supreme Court accepts the petition of the Thackeray faction, the Shinde faction may be disqualified and the Uddhav faction may get a majority in the Assembly.
• If the Supreme Court accepts the petition of the Shinde faction, then the Uddhav faction will become in the minority and the Shinde faction can become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

importance of hearing

This hearing will play an important role in deciding the nature of power in Maharashtra after the split of Shiv Sena. If the Supreme Court accepts the petition of the Uddhav faction, then the Shinde faction may be disqualified and the Uddhav faction may get a majority in the Assembly. If the Supreme Court accepts the petition of the Shinde faction, then the Uddhav faction will become in the minority and the Shinde faction can become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

date fixed for hearing

The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing on January 22. This hearing will be held in virtual mode.