Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray-Eknath Shinde tussle set for legal battle; another Shiv Sena MLA joins rebels

New Delhi, June 26

One more Shiv Sena MLA, Uday Samant, flew by a private jet to join the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde in Guwahati, taking the total number of rebels to 39, two more than the two-thirds of the party’s strength in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Y-plus CRPF cover for 15 MLAs

• The Centre on Sunday extended Y-plus security cover of CRPF commandos to at least 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs
• Their families living in Maharashtra will also be secured as the security blanket entails house protection teams
• Move comes after central security agencies said these MLAs and their families faced a potential threat to life

Sena on anti-defection issue

The concept of two-thirds majority not facing disqualification is applicable only when they merge with another party. — Devadatta Kamat, Shiv Sena Lawyer

Said to be close to Aaditya Thackeray, Samant was the “eighth minister” to shift allegiance from the embattled CM Uddhav Thackeray. This comes despite Aaditya Thackeray today warning “traitors” that the road from Mumbai airport to Vidhan Bhavan goes via Worli—the Shiv Sena bastion represented by him.

The rebel camp now has 39 Shiv Sena legislators, two from the Prahar Janshakti Party and seven Independents.

Amid the political chaos, posturing and reports of violence and vandalism in the state, all eyes are now on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari who was discharged from the hospital today.

With the possibility of rebels staking claim to form government in the state, or rooting for the President’s rule with the BJP, Koshyari’s presence at the Raj Bhavan has become crucial. Today, he directed DGP Rajnish Seth and Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey to provide security to all rebel “Shiv Sena” MLAs. Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, who sent disqualification notices to 16 rebels yesterday, had appointed Ajay Choudhary as the leader in the House. Claiming to be the “real” Shiv Sena, the Shinde side has moved the Supreme Court over the disqualification notice. Amid the buzz that Thackeray and the NCP were contemplating pushing for fresh Assembly elections along with Gujarat poll, rebels and the BJP might ask the Governor to elect a new Speaker to prove who has the majority. The Thackeray side today also pitched lawyers to argue over its power to disqualify rebels.

Supreme Court lawyer Devadatta Kamat said the rebels would be disqualified. “The Shiv Sena has initiated disqualification proceedings against 16 MLAs under Para 2(1) of the 10th Schedule. The concept of two-thirds majority not facing disqualification is applicable only when they merge with another party,” Kamat said.