UDDHAV, SHINDE CAMPS CONTINUE TO TRADE BARBS AFTER SC VERDICT
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday dared Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde to step down and face elections, a day after the Supreme Court said that the then governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to call for a floor test that ultimately toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was not in accordance with the law. The ruling Shiv Sena, however, accused Thackeray of trying to mislead people to “keep his group together”.
“The Supreme Court has given its verdict, but the final decision is taken in the people’s court. Now it is time to seek people’s mandate. The Shinde-Fadnavis government has no moral ground to stay in power after the SC verdict. As such fresh elections need to be held,” Thackeray said, while addressing the media.
Hitting back, CM Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, said the Thackeray faction was setting deadlines for speaker as they want to keep their flock together. “A lot of MLAs are in touch with us and want to cross over. Setting of deadlines for speaker is being announced by the UBT group to keep their group together.”
During the press briefing, Thackeray also asked Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide on the disqualification of 16 MLAs, including that of CM Shinde, within a fortnight, and demanded action against Koshyari. Narwekar, however, asserted that he will not succumb to any pressure. “As a Speaker, I will not succumb to any pressure. Whatever time is required to dispose of the petition will be taken and there will be no compromise on it.”