Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. file | Photo Credit: PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has written to the Deputy Chairman of the State Legislative Council, demanding that Viplav Bajoria be made Chief Whip of the Shiv Sena in the Upper House. Former CM Uddhav Thackeray,
Currently, Shiv Sena’s (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLC Anil Parab is the chief whip of the party in the House. Mr Shinde has given the letter to Neelam Gorhe, deputy chairperson of the state Legislative Council, who is part of the Thackeray camp. The budget session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly began on 27 February.
Bharat Gogawale, Shiv Sena’s chief whip in the state assembly, said on Sunday evening, “We have issued a whip to all Shiv Sena MLAs to be present throughout the budget session.” If any MLA does not follow it, he will face action.” The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shinde block in the state currently does not have a majority in the Upper House.
Amid a high-decibel political and legal battle between rival Shiv Sena groups, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar said last week that he has not received representation from any group claiming to be a separate party in the lower house.
the speaker told PTI That there is only one Shiv Sena with 55 MLAs led by Mr. Shinde and MLA Bharat Gogawale has been recognized as its chief whip.
Mr. Narvekar has approved the appointment of Mr. Shinde as the leader of the Legislature Party. Speaking to reporters on February 28, Mr Gogawale said, “We have given a letter asking Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe to appoint Viplav Bajoria as the chief whip of the Shiv Sena in the House. Gorhe has to accept it. Shinde is a Shiv Sena leader and it is a priority to accept his letter to change the chief whip.
“The Election Commission has already allotted Name of Shiv Sena and its symbol (Bow and arrows) will be with Chief Minister Shinde.”
What happened to Shiv Sena can happen to you too: Uddhav to political parties on EC orders
Significantly, during the hearing in the Supreme Court last week on the petition of the Uddhav Thackeray faction challenging the Election Commission’s decision to recognize the Shinde-led block as the real Shiv Sena, senior advocate NK Kaul, on behalf of the Shinde block, argued in the Supreme Court. Court was assured. The court bench will not take steps like issuing a whip or initiating disqualification proceedings against the Thackeray faction MPs – MLAs, MLCs and MPs – for the time being.
Senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for Mr Thackeray, had given the assurance that “tomorrow, if they issue whip or letter and if we don’t we will be disqualified. Now they are party. I don’t have any security. Your Lordship should at least give us the status quo.
This had prompted a Supreme Court bench to ask: “If we take it (the petition) up for hearing after two weeks, are you in the process of issuing a whip or disqualifying them.” “No, no,” replied Mr. Kaul.
When asked about it, Mr Gogavale said, “We have been told not to take any action against the Thackeray camp. We can still issue a whip and ask all members to be present throughout the session.”