In a strategic war to wrest control of the legislative party, the Shiv Sena has sought the disqualification of 16 MLAs, including rebel leader Eknath Shinde. In another setback to the mutineers, the acting speaker has denied Shinde’s camp the post of legislative party leader and rejected the appointment of a chief whip suggested by the rebel group.

Shinde is preparing to counter the decision by moving the Bombay High Court. He has claimed that he has support of more than two third of the Sena’s Assembly strength and termed Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal’s decision unconstitutional. He has added that deputy speaker Zirwal cannot take any decision when a no-trust motion was pending against him.