Sena Vs Sena: Uddhav Says Speaker's Vedict 'Murder Of Democracy', To Challenge Ruling in SC

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Wednesday ruled the MLAs of either faction of Shiv Sena cannot be disqualified for going “incommunicado” as alleged by the UBT faction. Uddhav Thackeray expressed displeasure over the verdict and termed it the “murder of democracy”.

The Maharashtra Assembly Speaker added that the “Shinde faction was the real Shiv Sena political party when rival factions emerged on 21st June 2022.”

ALSO READ: Maharashtra Speaker Rules in Favour of CM Shinde’s Faction: Here’s A Timeline of the Sena Vs Sena Tussle

“All the petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs are rejected. No MLA disqualified from any faction of Shiv Sena,” he said.

Here’s How Shiv Sena (UBT) Reacted to Verdict-

• Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray reacted to the verdict and said it seemed the Speaker did not understand his responsibilities.
• “I think he (speaker Rahul Narvekar) did not understand his responsibilities. Supreme Court provided a framework to be followed and even accepted our nomination of Chief Whip. I think the decision was beyond his understanding. Now we will see if the tribunal is above the Supreme Court…The people of the state do not accept this decision…” Uddhav Thackeray said.
• The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief further called the decision the “murder of democracy”.
• “The Speaker’s order that has come today is a murder of democracy and is also an insult to the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had clearly said that the Governor had misused his position and made a wrong decision…We will fight this battle further and we have full confidence in the Supreme Court…Supreme Court will not stop without giving complete justice to the people and Shiv Sena…” he said.
• Reacting to the Speaker’s verdict, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut called it “BJP’s conspiracy”.
• “This is BJP’s conspiracy & this was their dream that one day we would finish Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. But Shiv Sena won’t finish with this one decision…We will go to the Supreme Court,” Raut said.
• Speaking about the verdict, Aditya Thackeray said the party will fight a legal battle against it.
• “A legal battle will be fought against the decision given by the Assembly Speaker. It is shocking that such a decision comes even though we have given all the video recordings to the Election Commission. Democracy has been killed in our country. Hitler Shahi has started in the country.. and he will continue to fight against injustice,” Thackeray said.
• Thackeray further claimed that the decision by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is not according to the Constitution. “The constitution written by Babasaheb Ambedkar is not acceptable to BJP. Rahul Narvekar was in our favor for many years, when he was fighting on which party leader’s ticket?” he said.
• “Also, I have never seen such a shameless killing of democracy. In a democracy, the people will check the wrong government. But now there is an expectation from the Supreme Court, but there are more expectations from the people,” he added.
• NCP-Sharad Pawar faction leader, Dr.Jitendra Awhad said, “…The decision taken by the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker was undemocratic…The people of Maharashtra understand they want to finish the parties & their leaders. The people of Maharashtra will not tolerate this…”

Other Parties’ Reaction to the Verdict

• BJP leader spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said Maharashtra made the decision in accordance with the constitution and express confidence that the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) along with BJP will win the political battle as well.
• “Maharashtra has made the decision as per the Constitution. BJP and the real Shiv Sena have won the legal battle and they will continue to serve the people of Maharashtra. They will also win the political battle that will ensue in the time to come, this will absolutely happen,” the BJP leader said.
• Chief whip of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) Bharat Gogawale said, “…Our CM says that we would give them (opposition) a reply with our work…”
• Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole called the decision “unconstitutional” and “against party rules”.
• “Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar’s judgment is unconstitutional and it’s an undemocratic judgment and it was against party rules, he accepted that the real Shivsena was 1999, he did not disqualify any MLA from both sides…We have faith in the Supreme Court…Democracy is in danger after this judgment and BJP will face problems from this judgement,” he said.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, on the other hand, said everyone can approach the Supreme Court but it does not necessarily mean the order passed by the Speaker is overturned.

“…Every citizen of India has the right to approach the Supreme Court & High Court. However, just because you approach the court does not mean that the order passed by the Speaker is overturned, you have to establish that it is illegal or untenable in the eyes of the law. Your baseless allocations do not substantiate that…” Narvekar said on Shiv Sena (UBT) on Shiv Sena (UBT) seeking a fight a legal battle over the verdict.