Mumbai News Highlights: Saamana editorial says Speaker’s Shiv Sena verdict has ‘blackened face of democracy’

A First Information Report has been registered here against Nationalist Congress Party MLA Jitendra Awhad for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with his remark that Lord Ram was a nonvegetarian, an official said.

At least four similar FIRs have already been registered against the former Maharashtra minister -- two in Mumbai, one at Navghar police station in Thane district and another in Pune.

A case under Indian Penal Code section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) was registered against Awhad on Wednesday night at Vartak Nagar police station in Thane city, said a police official. Sejal Kadam, a BJP worker, had lodged a complaint against Awhad on January 10, he said. Police are conducting probe, he added.

Awhad has not been arrested in any of the FIRs.

Adani Group-owned Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport said passenger traffic at its facility increased 13 per cent year-on-year to 4.88 million in December 2023. This was the highest-ever passenger traffic for the airport, the aerodrome operator said in a statement.

Mumbai Airport had recorded a total passenger traffic of 4.33 million in December 2022, the statement said. The month of December observed a total of 28,462 air traffic movements (flights) with 21,175 on domestic routes and the remaining 7,287 on international routes, it said.

Also, Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa continue to remain the top three domestic destinations witnessing the highest passenger traffic from CSMIA, according to the airport operator. At the same time, Dubai, London, and Abu Dhabi continued to be the preferred international destinations, it said.

The Atal Setu or Mumbai Trans Harbour Sealink (MTHL) will be inaugurated tomorrow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said. The Sealink will be the country’s longest sea bridge.

Seen as a boon in the city known for its traffic snarls, MTHL will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and also lead to the economic integration of the neighbouring Raigad district into Mumbai’s ecosystem.

All you need to know

The Shiv Sena (UBT) targeted Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for recognising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led party as the "real" Shiv Sena, claiming the Constitution has been trampled upon by recognising a "gang of thieves". The people of the state will not forgive those behind this, an editorial in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' said while also targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The editorial in 'Saamana' claimed, "The Constitution has been trampled upon by recognising the gang of thieves." "The speaker's order was pre-decided, it further claimed, adding that there was nothing to be shocked about it. The lengthy decision by him was written by his bosses in Delhi," the Marathi daily said.

Narwekar had a chance to create history, but he gave a decision that has "blackened" the face of democracy, the editorial said.

A day after Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared that the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was “the real political party”, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar said on Thursday that the verdict was “on expected lines” and did not come as a surprise.

The VBA and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are alliance partners.

“The Speaker had limitations. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had already allotted the party title and the bow and arrow symbol to the Shiv Sena led by Shinde. Even the Supreme Court (SC) had in the past said it could not reinstate the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government as the decision to resign as CM was taken voluntarily by Thackeray without facing the floor test,” Ambedkar, who is a lawyer, said. Read more

Speaking to news agency ANI, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the verdict by Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar that Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena is the "real" party.

"They are not going to stay in power forever. The decision that has been taken is unfortunate and against the Constitution of India. The people of Maharashtra are seeing the kind of sin committed by ECI and the Speaker and they will get a reply from the people of the state," Chaturvedi said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday targeted Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar for recognising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led party as the "real" Shiv Sena, claiming the Constitution has been trampled upon by recognising a "gang of thieves".

The people of the state will not forgive those behind this, an editorial in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' said while also targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Addressing a news conference here, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed Narwekar was entrusted with doing justice, but he acted as Shinde's lawyer. .

Targeting Narwekar, the editorial in 'Saamana' claimed, "The Constitution has been trampled upon by recognising the gang of thieves." The speaker's order was pre-decided, it further claimed, adding that there was nothing to be shocked about it. "The lengthy decision by him was written by his bosses in Delhi," the Marathi daily said.

It alleged that the speaker's decision to hand over Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena to "traitors" amounts to indulging in "dishonesty with Maharashtra". Narwekar had a chance to create history, but he gave a decision that has "blackened" the face of democracy, the editorial said. Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Raut said the decision was expected and claimed there was "match-fixing".

"There is anger in the minds of people. The Supreme Court had given the responsibility of doing justice, but Narwekar acted as Shinde's lawyer. It was advocate Narwekar pleading for Shinde's group," he claimed. Narwekar's refusal to accept the 2018 constitution of the party is wrong as it has been placed before the Supreme Court, Raut said. "Narwekar acted as a worker of the BJP and not as the tribunal," Raut claimed, adding that his party would approach the Supreme Court in the matter. PTI

The Supreme Court extended the medical bail of NCP leader Nawab Malik by six months in a money laundering case. Earlier, he was granted a three-month extension in October. The ED arrested the former minister in February last year in a money laundering case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Malik had been in judicial custody since March 2022.

A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction was declared the "real" Shiv Sena, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the "play was scripted long ago" and what was watched was the "farce" being played out with no recourse.

In a post on X, Sibal said, "Speaker (as Tribunal): Shindes faction is real Sena. The play was scripted long ago. We watch the farce being played out with no recourse." "That is the tragedy of this 'mother of democracy'," the former Union minister said. In his 105-minute-long reading of the key points of the much-awaited ruling on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs following a split in the party in 2022, Narwekar also rejected the Uddhav Thackeray faction's petition to disqualify 16 MLAs of the ruling group, including Shinde.

Speaker (as Tribunal) :

Shindes faction is real Sena

The play was scripted long ago

We watch the farce being played out with no recourse

That is the tragedy of this ‘mother of democracy’

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) January 11, 2024

The 21.8-kilometre Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), officially called Atal Setu Nhava Sheva Sea Link, is all set to open, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to inaugurate it on Friday.

Promising a merely 20-minute drive from Sewri to Chirle, the bridge is poised to significantly shorten travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. However, decisions regarding bus services on this toll road are yet to be finalised by transportation authorities.

Caught up in a similar tussle over control of the party after a split, Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister and leader of one of the two NCP factions, may heave a sigh of relief after the verdict passed by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar where he declared Shiv Sena under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the real party.

Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP rebelled against his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar in July 2023. The Ajit camp staked claim on the party symbol and name and the litigation is pending in front of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Meanwhile, both sides of the NCP have filed disqualification petition against each side. The Supreme Court had directed the Speaker to give order on those petitions by January 31.

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Mumbai police will be looking after traffic regulation till 10.4 km (from Sewri) of the 21.8 km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) which will fall under Sewri jurisdiction, while rest of the sea link from the Navi Mumbai side will be under the jurisdiction of Nhava Sheva police, sources in the police department said. .

Defining jurisdiction is important especially in accident cases which can set off disputes over which police station will investigate the matter.

The overall manpower of the three traffic police divisions in Mumbai—Wadala, Pydhonie and Azad Maidan— have been increased significantly in case of additional requirement due to increased vehicular traffic added by MTHL, an officer said.

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#WATCH | Maharashtra Assembly Speaker rules Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena | Chief whip of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) Bharat Gogawale says, "...Our CM says that we would give them (opposition) a reply with our work..." pic.twitter.com/ypD4wz1lTF

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

The very first set of pleas were filed by the Uddhav faction two days after the Sena split, seeking the disqualification of Shinde and 15 other MLAs who allegedly ignored whips issued by Prabhu. Eventually, petitions would be filed for the disqualification of a total of 40 Shinde Sena MLAs.

However, the Shinde Sena claimed that its MLAs never received any such whip, and more importantly, that the split was borne out of legitimate grievances held by Sena supporters against the direction that the party took under Uddhav, and thus did not violate legislative rules inviting disqualification. It responded in kind, seeking the disqualification of 14 MLAs of the Uddhav faction instead.

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Maharashtra Assembly Speaker rules Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena | Maharashtra Minister & Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Deepak Kesarkar says, "With this decision, democracy will be strengthened. The fact of this decision is that there should be democracy in the party as… pic.twitter.com/kRGqiYsYm2

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

In yet another jolt to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said the faction led by now CM Eknath Shinde was the real Shiv Sena at the time the rival factions emerged.

Apart from rejecting the disqualification pleas against MLAs of both sides, Narwekar also said that Sunil Prabhu of the Sena (UBT) ceased to be the whip from June 21, 2022, and Bharat Gogawale of the Shinde group became the authorised whip.

Here are the top quotes from the verdict

Commenting on the verdict, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that a political party cannot be the private property of any one person and if the decision of the party chief is not acceptable, the other members of the party have the right to raise their voice against it. 

Welcoming the decision, he said, "I always used to say that majority is important in democracy. We have a majority in the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha. Along with that, the real Shiv Sena and party poll symbol have been given to us by the Election Commission. All I can say is that authoritarianism and dynasticism are broken by this result. No one should try to do whatever they want, considering the political party to be their private property. This is exactly what has been highlighted by the decision given by the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha today and the truth has prevailed. This decision has been taken according to natural justice," he said.

"The party contested the election in alliance with one party and formed the government with the other party. The opinion of the party chief alone cannot be the opinion of the entire party. We will work more vigorously by taking Balasaheb's thought forward," Shinde said.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that when the Eknath Shinde-led government was formed, all constitutional and legal aspects were adequately factored. "The government is founded on strong footing. Yet, some sections ( political rivals) were trying to spread false information. Today's verdict has vindicated the stand. Even in the past, the Supreme Court order never called for dislodging the government," he said.

Never seen a more shameless verdict of the tribunal that has murdered democracy.

It is evident that the regime of gaddars are against the constitution given to us by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

They want to re write the constitution to finish democracy.

Today the verdict has…

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 10, 2024

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole called Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar's judgment unconstitutional, undemocratic and against party rules. "He accepted that the real Shiv Sena constitution 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 the BJP will face problems from this judgement," he said.

#WATCH | Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray says, "We will go among the people...We have been going among the people & we will fight together along with the people of the state..." pic.twitter.com/WJweypm76S

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Workers of Shiv Sena (UBT) protest against Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar after his Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena ruling.

UBT faction leaders have said that they will challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/ETV84XGcqQ

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's verdict is unfortunate. "I am not surprised at all. We had heard 'Wahi hota hai j manzoor-e-khuda' hota hai'...after 2014 a new tradition has begun, 'Wahi hota hai Jo manzoor-e-Narendra Modi aur Amit Shah hota hai'. That is what we see happening in Maharashtra. This is an unfortunate compromise of ethics. Something that was termed 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional' by the Supreme Court is being turned into 'legal'," she said.

"This is not a judicial order but a political one. This order has created a great case for Uddhav Thackeray in Supreme Court. We will take this to the people of Maharashtra," said Sharad Pawar

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has murdered democracy, adding that his party will approach the Supreme Court in the matter.

"We request the Supreme Court to clear this matter before elections. We want to stress that the Shiv Sena will not end. People will not accept Shinde's Sena. The order was pre-decided and it was clear when the Speaker and CM met," he said.

Uddhav further said the Speaker, by holding Bharat Gogawale as the valid Whip of Shiv Sena, has disrespected the Supreme Court. "Who is the speaker to decide on the constitution of our party? If Shinde thinks that he ended family rule. His slavery has begun," he added.

Hitting out at the Assembly Speaker's verdict declaring the CM Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Sena, UBT leaders said it was a "conspiracy" and a "murder of democracy".

“It was BJPs dream to finish Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena, but BJP can never do that. Today’s verdict is not a judgement but a conspiracy,” said Sanjay Raut.

Meanwhile, Aditya Thackeray termed the decision a "murder of democracy" adding that it indicates how BJP can change the Constitution

#WATCH | Celebrations outside the office of Shiv Sena in Mumbai, after Maharashtra Speaker termed the Shinde faction as the "real" Shiv Sena political party pic.twitter.com/A0w17dFjQ6

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

#WATCH | Celebrations at the office of Shiv Sena- Shinde faction in Mumbai, after Maharashtra Speaker terms the faction as the "real" Shiv Sena political party pic.twitter.com/3TIykvk1f1

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar dismissed petitions seeking disqualification of two Independent MLAs and PJP's Bacchu Kadu.

Announcing his verdict on the cross-petitions seeking disqualification of shiv Sena MLAs, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar rejected the disqualification of Uddhav Thackeray faction's lawmakers.

"Submissions by Shinde faction that legislators from UBT factions were liable to be disqualified cannot be accepted on the grounds that it is mere allegation and assertion that they had voluntarily given up membership of party. No material was given to substantiate. Though the petitions tried to show that whip was served on respondent, the petitioner has failed to prove the service. There are major inconsistencies in the answer of the service of whip. Thus, the submission for disqualification of UBT members also cannot be accepted," he said.

In an interaction with Shiv Sena office bearers and workers in a meeting held at Waghwadi in Sangli district, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said, "This year is ours. But for that we have to forget caste-religion and promote Maharashtra as one religion. Get ready to fight for it together," he wrote in a post on X.

?????? ??????????? ??????? ???? ???????? ????????? ????????? ??? ?????????????? ????? ?????.

?? ???? ???? ???. ????? ???????? ???-???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ??????? ???; ????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????! pic.twitter.com/5h93ibXWOr

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 10, 2024

Speaker Rahul Narwekar said no party leadership can use provisions of the 10th schedule of Constitution to stifle dissent among large number of members of a party.

"Not attending party meeting and voicing difference of opinion outside the house of legislature are matters of party. Non-attendance of the meeting can at the most be termed as an act of dissent within the party and it would be protected by freedom of speech and expression. Non-attendance cannot be treated as conduct attracting disqualification," he said.

"The allegation by UBT faction against Shinde faction MLAs of making anti-party and anti-coalition statements is unsubstantiated. News reports cannot be taken as conclusive evidence of anti-party activities. It can at most be only considered hearsay. Therefore unstated and unsubstantiated statements cannot be ground for disqualification," he said.

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.

Stating that the submission by Shiv Sena UBT that respondents from Shinde faction went incommunicado after the party split ceases to hold any meaning for purpose of disqualification as Shinde faction held to be real political party when rival factions emerged, Speaker Rahul Narwekar rejected disqualification pleas against Shinde Sena MLAs.

"There is a submission by UBT faction that respondents from Shinde faction deliberately remained absent in meeting dated June 21, 2022. It will not be correct to say that Sunil Prabhu had any authority to call the said meeting. Petitioners' submission that respondents from Shinde faction are liable to be disqualified due to non attendance is rejected," Narwekar ruled.

"I hold that the Shinde faction was the real political party when rival faction emerged on June 21, 2022," rules Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. "Shinde faction had an overwhelming majority of 37 of 55 MLAs when rival factions emerged," he said.

Narwekar further said:

• Sunil Prabhu ceased to be the whip of the party since the rival faction emerged.
• Bharat Gogavale validly appointed as Whip.
• Eknath Shinde validly appointed as leader of Shiv Sena political party.

Shiv Sena MLAs' disqualification case | Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar says, "Shinde faction was the real Shiv Sena political party when rival factions emerged on 21st June 2022." pic.twitter.com/ap02jTodPl

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that rival factions have emerged in the legislature and political party and amongst leaders of party as well. "Submission that decision of leadership structure has to be construed synonymous with will of party can be applied only if there was dispute between leader of the party and the members. When there is vertical rift and two factions emerge, leaders of both factions Thackeray and Shinde can equally claim will of political party," he said.

Follow Speaker Rahul Narwekar's verdict Live:

Speaker Rahul Narwekar overturned Uddhav Thackeray's removal of now CM Eknath Shinde as a group leader of Shiv Sena. "It would be appropriate to note that the Shiv Sena constitution does not have a position called a Paksh Pramukh (which Uddhav Thackeray was holding). The will of the Paksha Pramukh is not synonymous to will of political party. The party president does not have a right to remove anyone from the position," he said.

Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that the leadership structure in 2018 was not in conformity with the Shiv Sena constitution. "The 2018 leadership structure mentions Shiv Sena pakshapramukh as highest office. However, in the SS constitution, the highest office is Shiv Sena Pramukh and Rashtriya Karyakarini is the highest authority."

Thus, Narwekar said, it cannot be taken as yardstick to determine which faction was the real political party at the relevant time. "The (Shiv Sena) UBT faction submitted that decision of Paksha Pramukh is synonymous to the will of political party in case of rift. This proposition is devoid of merit," he said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar says, "In view of the evidence and records before me, prima facie indicates that no elections were held in the year 2013, as well as in the year 2018. However, I as the speaker exercising jurisdiction under the 10th schedule… pic.twitter.com/6PP5hNv8Aw

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

Speaker Rahul NArwekar on leadership structure of Shiv Sena said, "I find that the leadership structure as reflected in February 2018 letter is relevant and to be taken into account to determine which faction is the real political party. Shiv Sena constitution is relevant to the extent of identifying relevant leadership structure. I have come to conclusion that emergence of two factions can be inferred from June 21, 2022 and same came to be as matter of official record of legislature secretariat on June 22, 2022."

The political crisis in Maharashtra has given rise to the question whether the Shiv Sena rebels can avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Law and exception

Under the anti-defection law, a member of a legislature can be disqualified if he or she has voluntarily given up membership of their political party; and if he/she votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by their party (or by any person or authority authorised by the party).

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Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar had earlier said that 34 petitions were filed and documents running into 2.5 lakh pages were produced before his office during the hearing.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar observed, "The two parties have different points of views on leadership structure. The only aspect is the majority in the legislature party. I will have to decide the relevant constitution to be taken into account to the  leadership structure that existed before the dispute...."

He went on to say, "As per the Apex court both the factions have submitted different versions of the constitution party, then in that case what has to be taken into account, the constitution which was submitted to the ECI with the consent of both parties before the rival factions emerged...Before recording further conclusion it is imperative to reiterate that pursuant to the initiation of this disqualification, the Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat had a letter dated June 7 2023, requesting the Office of ECI to provide a copy of the party constitution/memorandum/rules..."

Shiv Sena MLAs' disqualification case | Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar observes, "There is no consensus on the constitution submitted by both the parties (two factions of Shiv Sena) to the EC. The two parties have different points of views on leadership structure.… pic.twitter.com/4YE4gzeecZ

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

Reading out his verdict on the disqualification pleas pertaining to the Shiv Sena MLAs, Speaker Rahul Narwekar said the party's Constitution of 2018 can't be taken into account.

"The last relevant constitution submitted to ECI before the rival groups emerged was of 1999. I hold that Constitution of Shiv Sena party provided by ECI to Speaker is relevant constitution of Shiv Sena to decide which is the political party," he said.

Ahead of their Dussehra rallies on October 24, both factions of Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, released their teasers wherein they have taken potshots at the rival group.

Through the teasers and the rally, both Sena factions are staking a claim on the legacy of late Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Taking digs at each other through posters, both Sena factions are claiming theirs as the real Dussehra rally which follows the ideology of Bal Thackeray. Read more

Speaker Rahul Narwekar expressed gratitude to Supreme Court for guidance.

'Who is real Shiv Sena and who is chief whip? These are the issues before me,' he went on to say.

Addressing the annual Dussehra rally at the iconic Shivaji Park ground in Mumbai, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called his successor Eknath Shinde and his supporters “traitors” and insisted that this stamp will remain forever.

Maharashtra CM Shinde, meanwhile, asserted his rebellion was not an act of “betrayal”, but a “revolt” and asked Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to kneel down at party founder Bal Thackeray’s memorial and apologise for going against his ideals and aligning with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Read more

CM Eknath Shinde, while addressing a rally at at Hingoli, said that had he not rebelled in June 2022, Shiv Sena would not have survived. "Today, Shiv Sena is stronger and accessible to common man," he said.

He went on to praise PM Narendra Modi for fulfilling late Balasaheb Thackeray's dream of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. "While the Centre has raised slogan Aab Ki Baar 400 paar, Maharashtra will ensure Aab Ki baar 45 paar in 2024 Lok Sabha polls," he said.

Maharashtra consists of 48 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Minutes away from announcing his verdict on the disqualification pleas of Shiv Sena MLAs, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar held discussions with senior lawyers.

Following the Shiv Sena split, the Shinde faction has 40 MLAs and 13 MPs, while the Uddhav faction has 16 MLAs and 6 MPs.

Bharat Gogawale, Sanjay Shirsat, Balaji Kinikar, Yamini Jadhav, Mangesh Kudalkar, Deepak Kesarkar, Dnyanraj Chougule and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale from the Shiv Sena faction led by CM Eknath Shinde group are present at the Legislative building's central hall.

MLAs Sunil Prabhu and Vaibhav Naik from the Uddhav Thackeray group and Ambadas Danve (LoP of Legislative council) and MLC Sunil Shinde are also present.

From the BJP, Sameer Kunawar is among the leaders waiting for Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to arrive.

With Speaker Rahul Narwekar to announce the verdict on Shiv Sena faction disqualifications shortly, political eaders, MLAs and office bearers of both Shiv Sena factions gathered at the Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai.

Mumbai | Shiv Sena will never split. We stand behind Uddhav ji. What Eknath Shinde has done is not right, says an emotional Shiv Sena worker outside Maharashtra CM's official residence. pic.twitter.com/hvPwdmC4p0

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2022

Passing a unanimous judgement on the various issues related to the split in Shiv Sena in June 2022, the Supreme Court Thursday made strong observations about the role of the then Governor of Maharashtra and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The court, however, refrained from interfering with the proceedings related to disqualifying 16 MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Among the key takeaways from the verdict was the SC saying the issue of disqualification ought to be decided as per established procedures in law and the Speaker is the appropriate authority for this under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which lays down the anti-defection law.

It was also a letdown for Uddhav Thackeray, as the apex court said that his government cannot be reinstated as he had tendered his resignation following the political imbroglio in 2022.

Read the key takeaways from the verdict here

Legal and constitutional experts Tuesday criticised Speaker Rahul Narwekar for meeting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, before the verdict on the Shiv Sena MLAs’ disqualification petitions.

Narwekar is scheduled to deliver the verdict at 4 pm on January 10. “It is shocking to note that Narwekar who is functioning as a judge while deciding on the disqualification petition goes and meets the Chief Minister. The petitioner has sought disqualification of the Chief Minister as well. This is utterly wrong and violates the judicial ethics. A person who has the judicial decision-making authority should never meet an accused,” said B G Kolse-Patil, former judge of the Bombay High Court.

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The spotlight has not escaped Rahul Narwekar since he took over the post of the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on July 3, 2022.

Narwekar was elected Speaker days after Eknath Shinde took over as Chief Minister after the rebellion that split the undivided Shiv Sena. Both the factions of the Sena — the one led by Shinde, and the other by Uddhav Thackeray – had accused each other of defying the party’s whip over the election of a Speaker and the trust vote on July 4, 2022. They then went on to seek disqualification of the MLAs from the opposite side.

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Ahead of the crucial decision on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that Speaker Rahul Narwekar should give his verdict on merit.

Shinde said his group has 67 per cent of the Shiv Sena lawmakers in the assembly and 75 per cent in Lok Sabha.

“Some people allege match-fixing (between Shiv Sena and the speaker). There is no substance to those allegations. The speaker should give judgment on merit,” he said. (PTI)

Ahead of the MLA disqualification verdict, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "I will give an official statement after 4pm. I just want to say that we have a majority. 67% in Vidhan Sabha and 75% in Lok Sabha. We have 13 MPS and 50 MLAs. Based on this majority, the Election Commission has recognised us as the original Shiv Sena and allotted the bow-arrow symbol. We hope that the speaker will pass us on merit..."

#WATCH | Mumbai: On MLA disqualification verdict, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, "I will give an official statement after 4pm. I just want to say that we have a majority. 67% in Vidhan Sabha and 75% in Lok Sabha. We have 13 MPS and 50 MLAs. Based on this majority, the… pic.twitter.com/NtGHjGjgQW

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

After Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena moved to the Supreme Court on the Speaker-Chief Minister meeting, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar slammed the former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and said that Thackeray should know for what purposes a speaker could meet a chief minister.

The speaker met Shinde at 'Varsha', the chief minister's official residence in south Mumbai, on January 7.

"He, being the former CM, must know about the role of speaker. Speakers do meet CM for many works but when Uddhav Thackeray was CM, he did get the time to know about what role the speaker has in assembly. There are many purposes for which a speaker could meet a chief minister," Rahul Narwekar told reporters on Wednesday. (ANI)

The political temperature has risen in Maharashtra ahead of the crucial verdict by the assembly speaker on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs following a split in the party.

As Shiv Sena (UBC) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday questioned the timing of PM Modi’s visit to Maharashtra on January 12 and said he was well aware of the verdict in advance. "That is why he is so confident that the government is going to stay. He PM (Modi) know the verdict. Match-fixing will take place at 4 pm today," Raut alleged. 

In response, CM Eknath Shinde said, "The opposition(Sena UBT) can see their defeat and hence they are levelling such allegations. Today also our whip applies to them (the Sena UBT MLAs)."

"I will speak once the decision is announced. But I have to say one thing we have been recognised as the official Shiv Sena by the Election Commission based on the majority which we have in Loksabha and Vidhan Sabha. The EC has also allotted the party poll symbol. So we expect that as per the merit, the speaker must give the decision in our favour," Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said. 

Further hitting back at Sena UBT over the meeting between him and Narwekar, "Some people are making allegations of match-fixing just because the speaker met me for work in his constituency. It was an official meeting. We have seen several opposition members sitting in the cabin of the speaker, we never took an objection on it," Shinde said.