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Sena vs Sena verdict: Shinde camp, BJP office in Pune in upbeat mood, UBT wears deserted look
For Sena (Shinde faction) and BJP, the Apex Court verdict came as a major relief; MVA demanded resignation of CM and deputy CM
Workers across political parties in the city were anxiously waiting for the Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjay Chandrachud to read the Sena versus Sena ruling on the day of the Supreme Court decision, on Thursday.
At the chief minister, Eknath Shinde-led faction office at Sarasbaug, workers and party leaders had gathered as instructed by local leadership at around 11:10 am. When the apex court referred to the 2016 Nabam Rebia case, the mood turned upbeat in Shiv Sena (Shinde) camp.
A few minutes later, when Supreme Court observed that the speaker’s decision to appoint Bharatshet Gogawale (Shinde group) as chief whip of the Shiv Sena party was illegal, silence prevailed at Sarasbaug office although around three kilometres away at Pulachi wadi in Deccan where Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) office is located workers were expecting a decision in their favour. A similar mood was witnessed at Congress Bhavan in Shivajinagar and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) office near the district court.
The Congress, NCP, and Sena (UBT) are in an alliance and were hoping that the decision will be in their favour.
When the SC observed that the speaker must recognise only the whip appointed by the political party, workers at Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress offices celebrated.
The mood stayed upbeat for a few minutes as the apex court also castigated the governor over calling a no-confidence motion.
However, by 12:30 pm when Supreme Court said the speaker must decide on disqualification petitions within a reasonable time, the Sena (UBT) workers turned silent while a jubilant mood enveloped the Sarasbaug office.
Shiv Sena (Shinde) city unit president Nana Bhangire and all the office bearers celebrated the verdict near the party office and busted firecrackers after the decision. “We are very happy that SC has ruled in our favour,” he said.
MVA workers actively pointed out on social media that the court observed illegalities while forming the government (BJP-Shinde government) and demanded the resignations of the chief minister and his deputy.
Congress party leader Mohan Joshi said, “After the court’s remark, chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should resign on moral grounds.”
Prashant Jagtap, NCP city unit president, said, “The court has pointed out the governor’s illegal role in forming the Shinde and Fadnavis government while pointing out several other violations.”
For the BJP workers, the SC ruling came as a major relief. BJP city unit president Jagdish Mulik participated in the celebrations at the Sarasbaug office.
Mulik said, “The court had given a clear verdict and now our government will complete its tenure.”
Heavy police deployment to check untoward incident
As the Supreme Court (SC) delivered its verdict on the disqualification plea of 16 MLAs belonging to chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, there was heavy police presence in the city, especially near political party offices and some other locations. Senior officials said heavy police presence was to avoid any untoward incident as political workers had planned celebrations.
