CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis arrive for a press conference after the Supreme Court’s decision at Sahyadri Guest House in South Mumbai on Thursday. , Photo Credit: Emmanuel Yogini
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday termed the Supreme Court verdict on a batch of pleas related to last year’s political crisis in the state as a “slap” on those who called his government “illegal”, while Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded the resignation of Mr Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on “moral grounds”.
The petitions were filed after Mr Shinde’s rebellion against the undivided Shiv Sena led by Mr Thackeray led to the fall of the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
In a unanimous decision, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had ruled that it was not proper to ask the then Chief Minister Mr. Thackeray to prove his majority in the assembly.
However, it said the MVA government could not be restored as Mr Thackeray had resigned without facing a floor test, and the governor was right in inviting Mr Shinde to form a government with the support of the BJP, which Largest political party. Meeting.
‘Verdict restores trust’
Soon after the verdict, Mr. Thackeray told reporters at his residence Matoshree in Bandra that the verdict “restores faith in democracy” and urged Mr. Shinde and Mr. Fadnavis to resign on moral grounds “if they have morals”. Needed “They [Shinde faction] betrayed my party and my father’s legacy [Bal Thackeray], My resignation from the post of Chief Minister may be legally wrong, but I have given it on moral grounds.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said that while deciding on the disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs, including Shinde, Speaker Rahul Narvekar had to consider Sunil Prabhu as the party’s whip after the apex court had ruled that Bharat Gogawale should be appointed. The Speaker’s decision to appoint the Shinde faction as a party whip was “illegal”.
Mr. Thackeray also asked the then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to take the floor test. “How was I supposed to run a government with backstabbers?” He said there should be a provision to take action against governors for “misusing” their position even after they leave the state.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief, Uddhav Thackeray speaks at Matoshree in Mumbai on Thursday. , Photo Credit: ANI
‘Truth wins’
Addressing a joint press conference, Mr Shinde called the verdict a “victory for truth”, while Mr Fadnavis said it had “dispelled all doubts” about the legitimacy of the Shinde-BJP government.
“The court has made it clear that the Speaker is empowered to decide disqualification petitions,” Mr Fadnavis said, referring to the judgment that the Speaker and the Election Commission of India (ECI) were empowered to decide petitions together . 10th Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-defection law).
“Therefore, in a sense, the court has not obstructed the decision of ECI to give name and symbol to Shiv Sena party [to the Shinde faction in February this year]said the Deputy Chief Minister.
Responding to Mr Thackeray’s demand for resignation, Mr Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief had no right to talk about morality. “The truth is that Uddhav Thackeray did not resign as CM on moral grounds, but was afraid of losing the floor test. You [Uddhav] Elected with BJP [in the 2019 Assembly election]But went with Congress and NCP… Did you put this morality in a box at that time?’ They said.
On the court’s remark that the appointment of the Shiv Sena whip by the Speaker was “contrary to the law”, Mr Fadnavis said “since the original political party belongs to Mr Shinde, the whip will also belong to his party”.
Defending the former governor’s role in government-formation, Mr Shinde said Mr Koshyari had “acted according to the situation”, while Mr Fadnavis said the Supreme Court had not “reversed the process”.