Disqualification pleas verdict: Eknath Shinde faction is real Shiv Sena, says Rahul Narwekar

Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. File Pic

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday pronounced the Shiv Sena MLAs' disqualification verdict and said that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's faction is the real Shiv Sena, the PTI reported.

While pronouncing the judgement, Rahul Narwekar said, "Eknath Shinde-led faction was real Shiv Sena political party when rival factions emerged in 2022."

IN PHOTOS: Maharashtra speaker Rahul Narwekar to announce verdict in Sena disqualification pleas today

10 months agoPHOTO GALLERY

He said, the Shiv Sena 'pramukh' does not have power to remove any leader from the party.

Rahul Narvekar also said, "The 1999 constitution is the one which was submitted to Election Commission by Shiv Sena before rival groups were born."

He said, "The Uddhav Thackeray group's submission to consider Shiv Sena 2018 constitution cannot be accepted."

According to the ANI, Rahul Narwekar said, "In my view, the 2018 leadership structure (submitted with ECI) was not as per the Shiv Sena Constitution. Shiv Sena party chief as per the party Constitution can not remove anyone from the party. So Uddhav Thackeray removed Eknath Shinde or any party leader from the party as per the party Constitution. So the removal of Eknath Shinde by Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 is not accepted based on the Shiv Sena Constitution..."

He said, "The Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has not placed any material on record or even suggest that any meeting of the Rashtriya Karyakarini was called for where any decision about the real political party was resolved..."

Meanwhile, ahead of the crucial decision on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that Speaker Rahul Narwekar should give his verdict on merit, reported the PTI.

Talking to reporters, CM Eknath Shinde said that he would give a detailed reaction after the order but maintained that the Election Commission has allowed his outfit to keep the name 'Shiv Sena' and its 'bow and arrow' symbol.

Rahul Narwekar is slated to deliver his much-awaited verdict on the disqualification pleas at 4 pm on January 10 (Wednesday), Vidhan Bhavan officials have said, more than 18 months after the Shiv Sena suffered a vertical split, a political development that resulted in a change of guard in the state, as per the PTI.

(with PTI and ANI inputs)