Sena vs Sena highlights: Big win for Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra Speaker gives verdict

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde has termed the assembly speaker Rahul Narwenkar's verdict validating the former's faction as the real Shiv Sena as the victory of democracy. While speaking to the reporters, Shinde said that the result has been given on merit and majority. “It is 'Satyamev Jayate'. Truth has won...This result has been given on merit. Majority is very important in democracy and hence the decision given by the Speaker today is the victory of democracy,” news agency ANI quoted Shinde as saying.

Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Wednesday said Maharashtra's sympathy lay with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and he should approach the Supreme Court against the state assembly Speaker's ruling against his party. This was a fight for saving the democracy in the country, he said. "Considering the present political situation, the Speaker's decision was not unexpected. The sympathy of the country as well as the state is with Uddhav Thackeray," Chavan said.

"This is not Uddhav Thackeray's fight alone but this is a fight to safeguard the democracy. He should seek justice and go to the Supreme Court. Democracy will win for sure," the Congress leader said.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Wednesday called the verdict of Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar in the Supreme Court "unconstitutional and undemocratic", saying it was against the rules of the party.

Earlier today, while hearing a petition filed by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of rival group MLAs after a split in the party in June last year, the Maharashtra Speaker announced that the "Shinde faction was real Shiv Sena when rival factions emerged."

"The BJP dreamed that one day they would destroy Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena, but Shiv Sena will not end like this. Shiv Sena is in every Maharashtrian. Today's decision is not a decision but a conspiracy. We will approach the Supreme Court. Our fight will continue in the court. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, to whom the power was given by the Supreme Court, had an opportunity to write history, which he has wasted. All those who are celebrating today are traitors to Maharashtra and their situation will be like that of Mussolini," Sanjay Raut said.

Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar's verdict in the Shiv Sena MLAs disqualification case, which went in favour of the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was "not at all surprising", but it should be challenged in the Supreme Court by the rival group led by Uddhav Thackeray, NCP founder Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday. In a huge relief to Shinde, Narwekar, pronouncing his verdict in the case on Wednesday, held that the Shiv Sena faction led by him was the "real political party" when rival groups emerged in June 2022. Thackeray, who stepped down as chief minister in June 2022 following a split in the Shiv Sena, heads the other faction of the party. Reacting to the much-awaited verdict, Pawar said looking at the speaker's ruling, the Thackeray-led Sena faction will have to approach the Supreme Court.

Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray says, "...I think he (speaker Rahul Narvekar) did not understand his responsibilities. Supreme Court provided a framework to be followed and even accepted our nomination of Chief Whip. I think the decision was beyond his understanding. Now we will see if the tribunal is above the Supreme Court...The people of the state do not accept this decision..."

Jitendra Awhad (NCP-Sharad Pawar faction) leader has said that the post of Assembly Speaker is the highest but Rahul Narvekar has brought down the dignity of the post.

"MLA disqualification hearing will be held today but the Speaker of the Assembly never understood before that whatever papers were scrutinized should also have been shown to the countrymen through live view. How does the Assembly Speaker himself go to the residence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even before the disqualification? The post of Assembly Speaker is the highest but Rahul Narvekar has brought down the dignity of the post," he said.

Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Wednesday said Maharashtra's sympathy lay with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and he should approach the Supreme Court against the state assembly Speaker's ruling against his party. This was a fight for saving the democracy in the country, he said. "

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray tweets, "...Today the verdict has officially killed democracy in our state and the principals and pillars of the constitution...This verdict wasn’t only about Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray. This is about our country’s constitution and democracy. We hope the Supreme Court will ensure that there will be protection for the Constitution and Democracy, against this disgraceful political fixed game."

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said the Assembly Speaker's verdict that Eknath Shinde's Sena was the real Shiv Sena in 2022 when the factions emerged is a murder of democracy. It is also an insult to the Supreme Court, the former chief minister, who resigned in 2022 facing a rebellion by Eknath Shinde with the help of the BJP, said. The Uddhav faction has already announced that they reject the verdict and would move the Supreme Court against it. Read more

Chief whip of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) Bharat Gogawale says, "...Our CM says that we would give them (opposition) a reply with our work..."

BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill says, "Maharashtra has made the decision as per the Constitution. BJP and the real Shiv Sena have won the legal battle and they will continue to serve the people of Maharashtra. They will also win the political battle that will ensue in the time to come, this will absolutely happen."

It was a match fixing. The verdict is also an insult of Supreme Court which had ruled that Sunil Prabhu's appointment as chief whip was valid. We don't accept this verdict, we are challenging it in the apex court, says Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole says, "Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar's judgment is unconstitutional and it's an undemocratic judgment and it was against party rules, he accepted that the real Shivsena was 1999, he did not disqualify any MLA from both sides...We have faith in the Supreme Court...Democracy is in danger after this judgment and BJP will face problems from this judgement"

Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday ruled that chief minister Eknath Shinde led faction is the real Shiv Sena. He rejected the demand for disqualification of Shinde and his MLAs saying that there was no question of them violating provisions of anti-defection law since Thackeray faction's chief whip Sunil Prabhu had no authority to issue the whip. So what does the verdict mean?

First, chief minister Eknath Shinde continues as chief minister of Maharashtra. He gets boost in his political battle with Uddhav Thackeray as his claim on Shiv Sena now gets stamp of approval by the Assembly Speaker. His fate now depends on what Supreme Court decides on the disqualification issue as Thackeray faction will challenge Narwekar's verdict in the apex court.

Shinde would lead the ruling alliance in the Lok Sabha elections if the apex court's verdict is not delivered till then or goes in his favour. If he wins the legal battle in the Supreme Court, he is likely to lead the alliance in state assembly elections too later this year. He would also have a good chance to return as chief minister of the alliance wins assembly polls. Losing the court battle would mean he would have to step down as chief minister and also face a jubilant Uddhav Thackeray led rival faction in the assembly elections. The Supreme Court is also hearing a petition filed by Thackeray faction challenging Election Commission of India's decision to give Shiv Sena party and symbol to Shinde. The outcome of this petition would also have a bearing on the electoral battle between him and Thackeray.

Maharastra Minister Uday Samant says, "It has been finalised as to who is a traitor...We are satisfied with the decision & we thank the Assembly Speaker..."

Murder of democracy,"reacts Uddhav Thackeray after Speaker's verdict

LoP in Maharashtra Legislative Council and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve says, "The decision is wrong. Why did they take so much time, if they had to give this ruling? This was a time pass right from the beginning. We will challenge this ruling in the Supreme Court."

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker rules Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena | NCP chief Sharad Pawar says, "After this decision, Uddhav will have to go to SC...He is hopeful of getting justice in SC. Ambadas Danve said that we will go to the Supreme Court and challenge this decision. SC had said in Subhash Desai's case that party organisation is important"

"All the petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs are rejected. No MLA disqualified from any faction of Shiv Sena," says Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar.

“With this decision, democracy will be strengthened. The fact of this decision is that there should be democracy in the party as well...This is a landmark judgement...This decision was taken after analyses of all facts. It is a correct decision,” Maharashtra Minister & Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Deepak Kesarkar said.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker rules Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena | Shiv Sena (UBT faction) leader Sanjay Raut says, "...This is BJP's conspiracy & this was their dream that one day we would finish Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena. But Shiv Sena won't finish with this one decision...We will go to the Supreme Court..."