Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday admitted that they will be locked in a long-drawn battle over the breach of the whip and the subsequent disqualification. As two whips were issued for legislators asking them to cast their votes during today’s Speaker’s election, both Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and a breakaway group led by CM Eknath Shinde brought on record the violation of their respective whips.
Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had issued a whip to remain present for voting during the Speaker’s election for its candidate Rajan Salvi backed by NCP and Congress. On the other hand, the Shinde camp had issued a separate whip asking the legislators to vote for BJP nominee Rahul Narvekar supported it for the Speaker’s post.
After the voting, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal said that rebel Shiv Sena MLAs had voted against the whip. All the procedure has been video recorded. The names of those who voted against the party whip should be written down. Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat had urged Zirwal to put in the record the submission made by the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in connection with the breach of the whip by the legislators from the Shinde camp.
On the other hand, the Shinde camp also made a submission to the newly elected speaker Rahul Narvekar and requested him to place on record the violation of its whip by 16 legislators belonging to the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Both sides strongly justified their moves hinting that the issue will be ultimately taken up in the Supreme Court. The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena meanwhile has filed a petition with the Speaker seeking the disqualification of 39 MLAs from the Shinde camp for the breach of the whip. A similar plea is expected from the Shinde camp against 16 MLAs of the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Today’s development came at a time when the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on July 1 approached the apex court seeking the suspension of 16 rebel legislators including Eknath Shinde till the deputy speaker decides the disqualification petitions filed against them. Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu has sought the suspension of 16 legislators, against whom disqualification pleas were filed, till a final decision is taken on their disqualification.
The Supreme Court has listed it for 11 July when it will also resume hearing on the petitions by the rebels regarding the disqualification proceedings against them.
