Maharashtra Speaker to call Sena MLAs for disqualification hearings in next 2 weeks
The Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar is likely to call 54 Shiv Sena MLAs from the Shinde and Uddhav factions for the hearings in the disqualification petitions in the next two weeks.
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, is expected to summon 54 Shiv Sena MLAs for a physical hearing in the next two weeks, regarding the disqualification petitions against them after a split in the party.
Disqualification proceedings were initiated in 2022 by the Eknath Shinde-led Sena’s whip Bharat Gogawale against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLAs.
Similarly, the Thackeary camp’s whip Sunil Prabhu had initiated similar proceedings against the legislators who were part of the Shinde faction.
According to officials, 40 Shiv Sena MLAs, from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, have not yet submitted their detailed replies to the disqualification notices issued to them. The extension given to them is set to end this week.
Officials have said that from the Uddhav Thackeray group, 14 MLAs have already submitted their detailed responses.
SENA MLAs TO BE CALLED FOR HEARING
Once the replies from the Shinde faction are received, the Speaker will thoroughly examine them before moving forward with the next steps of calling the MLAs for a hearing.
This hearing is likely to take place next week or at the latest, within the next two weeks.
Narwekar may also summon the heads of the two Sena factions, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, in order to finalise the issue of which party had the authority to appoint a whip in July 2022.
According to an official, the Speaker will first examine which faction's constitution was in force during June and July last year, when 40 MLAs departed from Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.
The examination of the MLAs' replies will precede the hearing itself.
The MLAs belonging to the Shinde group had requested an extension of time to respond to the notice, citing the monsoon session of the legislative body as the reason. In response to their request, the Speaker granted them a two-week extension.
MAHARASHTRA SPEAKER SEEKS REPLIES BY SENA MLAs
Previously, Narwekar had issued notices to 54 legislators, with 40 from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 14 from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), regarding the disqualification pleas filed against them.
The Sena (UBT) MLAs have highlighted the Supreme Court order in the disqualification case, contending that Bharat Gogawale's appointment as the party's whip by the Shinde faction was deemed illegal. The Sena (UBT) has cited the Supreme Court order in their response.
