Maha political crisis: Relief from disqualification for Sena rebels till July 12

The stalemate in state politics continues as the Supreme Court has given time to the Shiv Sena rebel group to respond to the notice of disqualification till July 12 While maintaining the status quo the court has asked respondents to file affidavits in five days and counter replies in the three days thereafter so that it can balance competing claims before determining all issues The next hearing will be on July 11Rebel leader Eknath Shinde and his group members have challenged in two separate petitions the disqualification notice and removal of Shinde as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party SSLP leader Their petition argued that the Deputy Speaker whose removal has been demanded cannot decide their disqualification or appoint a new leader when the breakaway group is in majorityParty leaders Subhash Desai and Sachin AhirLast week Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal recognised Ajay Choudhary as leader of the SSLP and served disqualification notices to Shinde and the 15 MLAs They were given time till 530 pm Monday to respond The 39 rebels also prayed before the court to ensure protection to their families and property from aggressive Sena workers in MaharashtraThey cited purported threats of murder issued by the Sena spokesperson to seek protection The court asked the state government to do the needful The grouprsquos lawyer told the court that the MLAs could not go to Mumbai before the Bombay High Court because a minority of the legislative party was subverting the state machinery attacking MLAsrsquo houses ldquoThey are saying that our bodies will return from Assam The atmosphere is not conducive for us to exercise our rights in Mumbairdquo said the lawyerAt the Shiv Sena Bhavan at Dadar on Monday for the national executive meet PicsAshish RajeFollowing the Maharashtra governorrsquos recommendations and observation that the state police didnrsquot do much to contain violence the Centre has provided security to the rebelsrsquo families and propertiesLater Shinde tweeted saying that the Supreme Courtrsquos notice to the Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker was a victory of Balasahebrsquos Thackerayrsquos HindutvaIn the interim can a notrust motion be moved and the governor tell the government to prove its majority The stakeholders were split in their opinion Sources in the Sena said that the rebels would be disqualified if they voted against the Thackeray government in a trustvote if held before the next court hearingThe question over the floor test was raised during the argument on Monday but the court asked the Sena lawyer to not create any complications on the basis of apprehensions not founded nowState Congress president Nana Patole demanded a trust voteOn Monday the Raj Bhavan clarified that the Shinde group has not withdrawn its support to the government The explanation came after unconfirmed reports that the rebels have mentioned pullout in their court petition The governor comes into play when the government is deemed to have lost the majorityBJP to wait and watchThe Bharatiya Janata Partyrsquos state core committee met after the SC hearing to mull over the current situation Party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the party has decided to wait and watch ldquoThere is no need to bring a notrust as of now The Shinde group cannot be named as rebels because they are in a majorityrdquo he said adding that there was no proposal from the Shinde group However he said the party would take appropriate decisions at an appropriate timeMNS denies merger Dispelling rumours that the Shinde group was likely to merge with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party leader Bala Nandgaonkar said they were watching the political developments closely MNS has one MLA Its ideology suits the Shinde grouprsquosThere are speculations that if they are not recognised as a separate group Shindersquos supporters will merge with MNS to escape punitive provisions in the antidefection lawMinisters divested of chargeAfter getting the disqualification notice to the rebels Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took a major step albeit late by removing departmental charge from the cabinet and junior ministers who are in Guwahati The last minister to join the revolt was Uday SamantThackeray distributed the additional departments between three Sena ministers ndash Aaditya Thackeray Samantrsquos Subhash Desai Shindersquos Anil Parab Gulabrao Patilrsquos and independent associated Shankarrao Gadakh Sandipan Bhumre and Dada Bhusersquos The junior ministersrsquo charge was given to the Congress and NCP members