New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear, on January 22, the plea filed by Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sunil Prabhu against the ruling of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar holding that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction is the "real" Shiv Sena.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, acceded to the request made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, for listing the matter on Monday next week instead of this Friday.

The matter was earlier ordered to be urgently listed on February 19 for hearing.

On January 15, former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction petitioned the apex court questioning the January 10 decision passed by Narwekar holding that the group led by CM Shinde was the real "Shiv Sena" as it commanded a majority in the legislature and also in the party’s National Executive.

Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS) In a major ruling, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday declared that the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the "real" Shiv Sena after the vertical split in the party on June 21, 2022.

Accordingly, the prospect of disqualification over all the 16 MLAs, including Shinde, was rendered infructuous, rejecting the contention of the Shiv Sena-UBT.

The Speaker also held that the then Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu ceased to reflect the will of the party to continue in the post, as the new Chief Whip Bharat Gogawale was the validly elected Chief Whip after the rival faction emerged.

The Speaker's much-awaited verdict came as a huge relief to Chief Minister Shinde and a major blow to the Shiv Sena-UBT, led by ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, who had contested the claims of the breakaway group.

The Speaker has rejected several other claims and contentions made in the SS-UBT plea, challenging the Shinde faction, even as huge celebrations were started by the ruling Shiv Sena activists in Mumbai and other parts of the state.

Mumbai, Jan 9 (IANS) Maharashtra awaits with bated breath for the much-anticipated verdict in the disqualification case of Shiv Sena MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The "make or break" ruling, is expected to be delivered by Speaker Rahul Narwekar amid a cloud over his Sunday lunch meeting with Shinde that has attracted howls protests from the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress-Shiv Sena-UBT-Nationalist Congress Party-SP).

Narwekar, who came under fire on multiple occasions for the alleged delays in delivering the verdict, is likely to finally pronounce it around 4 pm on Wednesday, the extended deadline given by the Supreme Court.

Despite showing a brave face, many in the ruling Shinde-led Shiv Sena are apprehensive over the outcome, while the ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT is already planning its next move in case the verdict goes against it.

The Speaker completed the hearings in the 34 petitions two weeks ago, filed by the Shinde and Thackeray factions, along with voluminous supporting material running into over 2.50 lakh documents.

In the hearings, the Speaker categorised and examined the pleas on various parameters like anti-party activities, defection, election of Speaker, violation of Whips, etc. to arrive at his final conclusion on disqualification.

Anticipating the worst, SS-UBT leader Anil Parab said on Tuesday that if the ruling goes against them, then his party would challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court and expressed hopes that the Speaker would not act like a party functionary.

However, ruling Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant E. Shinde said that the outcome would be as per the proceedings before the Speaker and will favour truth, while other leaders indicated that they expect the verdict in their favour, and the government would not be disturbed.

The case arose after the MVA ally Shiv Sena split vertically in June 2022 and led to the collapse of the Thackeray-led government, and Shinde was anointed the new CM.

Following that political earthquake, both the Sena factions filed cross-petitions seeking action against each other’s MLAs under the anti-defection laws, violating the Whips, etc.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission had recognised the Shinde group and allotted it the name of Shiv Sena and the bow and arrow poll symbol, while the Thackeray-led faction was given the name Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and given the flaming torch election symbol.

In May, the Supreme Court had directed the Speaker to pronounce his decision on the real Shiv Sena and then asked him to give his ruling on the disqualification petitions by December 31.

Days before that deadline, on December 20, the SC granted an extension of 10 days till January 10 to give the verdict – which could have major political ramifications in the state, both immediate and in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections this year.

Later, the case of the NCP – which has also split vertically in July 2023 – is expected to be taken up with the verdict likely by January 31, with its own separate political consequences.

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) In another rude jolt to the Shiv Sena (UBT), its senior leader and Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council Dr Neelam Gorhe joined the ruling ally Shiv Sena, here on Friday.

Dr Gorhe has been with the Shiv Sena (UBT) for over three decades, and her decision comes barely three weeks after the party’s spokesperson Dr Manisha Kayande had joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Dr Gorhe was welcomed to the Shiv Sena fold by Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and other senior leaders.

Upon her entry to Shiv Sena, she said that Shinde is on the right track and the party belongs to him as per the decision of the court.

“I have officially joined the Shiv Sena. It is heading in the right direction under the leadership of CM Shinde,” she announced.

Dismissing suggestions that she was unhappy or disgruntled with the Shiv Sena (UBT), she said that it was a conscious decision keeping in mind the women’s issues and overall development of the state and country.

Incidentally, political circles have been abuzz with speculation about Dr Gorhe's political moves since the past over five months.

However, the Shiv Sena (UBT) top brass, including Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, had stoutly denied any such possibility even this morning.

Welcoming her, Shinde said that Dr Gorhe holds a Constitutional post and pointed out that she is not ‘defecting’ but has come back to the original Shiv Sena.

He added how his Shiv Sena is emerging stronger by the day and people keep joining it seeing the impact of its unity with the ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party.

“People are seeing the work we are doing. Even Dr. Gorhe will be able to work freely with all her heart for women’s issues,” assured the CM.

Shinde pointed out how it was the wish of the people of the state who wanted the Shiv Sena-BJP to be together as per the elections mandate of Nov. 2019, and that’s why he and 50 other MLAs walked out in June 2022.

“We did not come together for the lust of power… We were already in power. We had a common ideological ground from the days of the late Balasaheb Thackeray and the late PM Atal Behari Vajpayee. We did not compromise our ideals and our ideology. Even the Supreme Court has ruled in our favour,” declared Shinde.

Fadnavis said that Dr Gorhe has taken a wise decision and so he had come personally to welcome her into the alliance.

To a query whether there was any scope for the Opposition, the Deputy CM smiled and said that he believes that there should be a strong opposition in a democracy.

“However, the Opposition should be a constructive one, and not destructive as we are witnessing,” Fadnavis urged.

Referring to the political grapevine of the past four days, Shinde reiterated that the Opposition is 'planting rumours' that he was preparing to quit to confuse the people.

“Let them do so. We are strongly united, PM Narendra Modi is leading the nation ahead to become a superpower and we think we have a role to play as a state. The Opposition should introspect before hurling allegations,” said Shinde.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut slammed Dr. Gorhe’s move to quit after the party did so much for her, while senior leader Chandrakant Khaire said she was hankering for positions and has left.

Mumbai, May 11 (IANS) Soon after the Supreme Court's verdict with its scathing observations, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has lost the moral authority and must immediately quit.

Sena (UBT) Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut also welcomed the SC verdict calling it a trendsetter not only for Maharashtra but for the entire country.

"The SC has said that this is a totally illegal and unconstitutional government and all the decisions of the (then) Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari were wrong," said Raut.

On the issue of the SC observations that if the then CM Uddhav Thackeray had not resigned, then he could have been reinstated, Raut said that indicates that the present government is illegal.

About the SC move to let the Speaker (Rahul Narwekar) decide on the disqualification of 16 MLAs, including CM Shinde, Raut said: "Let the matter come before the Speaker. With this judgement, the Speaker cannot take any decision that will be contrary to the Constitution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar."

Over the SC stamp of approval on Sunil Prabhu as the party Whip, Raut said that this means that the Whip of the Shinde faction (Bharat Gogawale) is also illegal.

"Considering all this, Shinde and his team has lost the ethical ground to continue in office and must tender their resignations forthwith," reiterated Raut.

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) The Supreme Court will on Thursday pronounce its judgment on the political crisis in Maharashtra in connection with the rebellion by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs, leading to the fall of Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray.

On March 16, the court, after hearing submissions for nine days, reserved its judgment on a batch of cross-petitions of the groups headed by Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in connection with the issue.

An announcement regarding the judgment was made by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Wednesday during the hearing on pleas related to legal sanction to same sex marriage.

On March 16, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Chandrachud and comprising Justices M.R. Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P.S. Narasimha, before reserving the verdict, shot a volley of questions at senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Thackeray group.

The Chief Justice asked Singhvi: "So, really the question is whether there was a valid exercise of power by the Governor to call for a trust vote? And what happens, if we come to a conclusion that there was no valid exercise of power by the Governor to call for a trust vote?"

As Singhvi said everything falls, the bench said that everything falls on would be simple. Singhvi stressed that is the core question and urged the court to allow him to present his case.

The Chief Justice further queried: "Then, according to you, what, we reinstate the Uddhav Thackeray government? But you resigned." Singhvi said Thackeray's resignation and not facing the trust vote is irrelevant.

The Chief Justice observed: "That is, the court being told to reinstate a government (which has resigned)." Singhvi said that it is a plausible way of looking at it but it is irrelevant, and asked the bench to give him an opportunity to explain his contention.

At this juncture, Justice Shah said: "How can the court reinstate a Chief Minister who did not even face floor test?" Singhvi said the court is not reinstating anyone but it is restoring the status quo ante.

The Chief Justice further queried Singhvi, "But, it would have been a logical thing to do provided you had lost the trust vote on the floor of the Assembly. Clearly, then you would have been ousted from power due to a trust vote, which is set aside... look at the intellectual conundrum that it is not that you have been ousted from power as a result of a trust vote which was wrongly summoned by the Governor. You chose not to, whatever reason you did not face the trust vote."

The Thackeray group was represented by senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Singhvi, Devadatt Kamat, and advocate Amit Anand Tiwari.

Shinde group was represented by senior advocates Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Harish Salve, Mahesh Jethmalani and advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh for the Shinde-led group. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the office of the Governor in the matter. The hearing in the matter commenced on February 21.

On June 29, 2022, the apex court refused to stay the Governor's direction to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray to take floor test, who resigned sensing defeat. It paved the way for the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance led by Shinde to come to power in Maharashtra.

Thane, April 4 (IANS) In a shocker, a seven-month pregnant woman activist of the Shiv Sena (UBT) was brutally assaulted by some persons in Thane, the hometown of Shiv Sena Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, officials said here

The incident happened late on Monday.

Former CM and Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, his wife and son Aditya Thackeray rushed to Thane to enquire after the health of their party worker, Roshani Shinde-Pawar, was admitted to the ICU of a nearby hospital.

The Kasarvadavali Police Station has filed a case and is probing the matter, while Shinde conducted a meeting of officials on the issue that has snowballed into another political fracas between the two breakaway Sena factions.

According to officials, the trigger for the attack on Shinde-Pawar was a social media post made by her on Monday that enraged the rival side activists.

Late Monday night, a group of workers, allegedly belonging to the Shiv Sena, brutally assaulted Shinde-Pawar and scooted from the area.

The grievously injured Shinde-Pawar in an advanced stage of pregnancy was rushed to a local hospital and later shifted to the ICU this morning.

Sena (UBT) senior leader Sushma Andhare condemned the attack, saying that this has been repeatedly happening all over the state and cited the instance of another party worker Girish Kolhe, who also hammered in the CM's home town, and another woman activist beaten up in Kalyan town.

"When we (the Opposition) go to lodge police complaints, we are not entertained, but culprits supporting the ruling alliance are given priority in lodging complaints against us and immediate action is taken," Andhare said.

Local politicians claim that Shinde-Patil's post allegedly taking a potshot at the CM did not go down well with his supporters, resulting in the attack.

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued summons to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut and MLA Aditya Thackeray in a defamation case filed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's aide Rahul Ramesh Shewale.

Shewale had filed the defamation suit against the three for certain statements alleging that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction bought the party symbol for Rs 2,000 crore.

While appearing for Shewale, senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar prayed the court to pass an injunction order to restrain them from making any further defamatory claims, Justice Prateek Jalan said that an order will be passed only after having the response of parties.

The court listed the case for next hearing on April 17.

The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on a batch of cross-petitions filed by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde groups in connection with the Maharashtra political crisis. The court heard submissions for nine days before reserving the judgment. A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, posed several questions to senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Thackeray group.

The Chief Justice questioned Singhvi on whether there was a valid exercise of power by the Governor to call for a trust vote and what happens if the court concludes that there was no valid exercise of power by the Governor. When Singhvi stated that Thackeray's resignation and not facing the trust vote is irrelevant, the Chief Justice asked how the court could reinstate a Chief Minister who did not even face a floor test.

The hearing commenced on February 21, and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Singhvi, Devadatt Kamat, and advocate Amit Anand Tiwari made their submissions. The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance led by Shinde came to power in Maharashtra after Thackeray resigned, sensing defeat. On June 29, 2022, the apex court refused to stay the Governor's direction to take a floor test.

The Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that it had passed a "well-reasoned" order, in a quasi-judicial capacity, to allot the name and party symbol of the Shiv Sena to the Eknath Shinde faction.

The EC filed a counter-affidavit, stating that the order had already been passed under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order, and thus, had no contentions to make on the case's merits. It added that the commission had become a functus officio, and the courts had held that the quasi-judicial body need not be arrayed as a party to the appeal in a catena of cases.

On February 22, the Supreme Court refused to stay the Election Commission decision recognizing the Eknath Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena and granted it the party name and symbol.

However, Uddhav Thackeray challenged the decision, leading to the present proceedings.

Thane, March 7 (IANS) Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's hometown witnessed an ugly tussle between his Shiv Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT) activists each trying to grab a local 'shakha' (branch) of the party late on Monday.

The Vartak Nagar Police rushed to the Shivainagar to intervene in the minor scuffle and managed to peacefully disperse the crowds as 'holika dahan' was celebrated with joy in the vicinity.

The activists of the two rival factions converged at the Shivainagar 'shakha' set up by the Shiv Sena attempting to establish their supremacy over it, in view of the upcoming civic elections.

The 'shakha' is currently being controlled by ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) but the rival Shiv Sena members allegedly attempted to install their banner and take it over.

The fracas saw some jostling among the two factions, a high-decibel slogan-shouting and condemnation on both sides for nearly an hour before the police calmed them and the groups went their ways.

Late in the night, a video of the ruckus outside the 'shakha' went viral with police patiently separating them and later clearing up the crowds.

Earlier, the Shiv Sena had taken over the party offices in the Maharashtra legislature and parliament, and is said to be coveting other establishments and offices in different parts of the state.

However, the iconic Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, Mumbai - which belongs to a family trust of the Thackerays' - is retained by Sena (UBT), and the Shinde faction set up a new Central Office in Thane last month.

Founded by the late Balasaheb Thackeray, the Shiv Sena had set up over 160 local neighbourhood 'shakhas' in Mumbai, and many more in its strongholds in Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Palghar and other districts to interact directly with the local population.

These local branches - run by a powerful 'Shakha Pramukh' - tried to solve people's grievances with the local or state governments and also proved a success to the party for winning various elections, and many 'Shakha Pramukhs' later rose to become important party functionaries, elected to civic bodies, assembly and parliament.

Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's purported statement labelling the ruling Shiv Sena as fake and a 'chor mandali' (gang of thieves) sparked a massive row in the Maharashtra Assembly with demands for a breach of privilege motion against him, as the House saw four adjournments.

Speaking on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said calling the House as 'chor mandal' would not be tolerated and it was an insult to the legislature.

He urged that it was not a matter concerning any individual party or member but an onslaught on the dignity of the House, the elected representatives, it could set a precedent and in future anybody could say anything and get away.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Atul Bhatkalkar moved a notice of breach of privilege motion against Raut terming it as an 'extremely serious matter', a slur on the House, the people and the Constitution.

Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that he would fully enquire into Raut's utterances in the next couple of days and would take a decision in the matter on March 8, and adjourned the House till Thursday.

On his part, a besieged Raut claimed that his 'remarks were misinterpreted' but said he was prepared to attend any enquiry in the matter.

Earlier, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar, Nitesh Rane, and others slammed Raut and termed his statement as a 'betrayal' of Maharashtra.

Similarly, Nationalist Congress Party's Leader of Opposition (Assembly), Nationalist Congress Party's Ajit Pawar termed Raut's outburst as 'wrong', while Sena (UBT)'s Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve said his party colleague's statement was 'incorrect'.

Amid a huge ruckus on both sides, the House was adjourned for around 10 minutes this morning, followed by at least three more adjournments, and finally at around 1 p.m., it was adjourned for the day.

Soon afterwards, the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP members staged a vociferous protest on the stairs outside the legislature, and raised slogans condemning Raut's utterances.

Currently on a tour of Kolhapur for the ;Shivgarjana' and 'Shivsamvad' initiatives, at one point, Raut hit out at the rival faction, allegedly saying that "there is a fake Shiv Sena in the legislature, it's a gang of thieves".

Referring to the manner in which the Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is erasing the influence of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray, Raut said that even if they are removed from any post, they will not quit the party, since the late Balasaheb Thackeray had given them many such posts and the party is supreme.

The Sena (UBT) MP also pointed out how his party made a roaring success of the 'Shivgarjana' in Dharashiv (Osmanabad) Tuesday, and now this will be repeated all over Maharashtra as the party is getting stronger.

The relations between the Sena (UBT) and Shiv Sena have deteriorated after the Election Commission of India (ECI) last month recognised the Shinde faction as the 'real' one and awarded it the 'Shiv Sena' name and 'Bow-and-Arrow' poll symbol, which the Sena (UBT) has challenged in the Supreme Court, along with other related issues.