Mumbai: Soon after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the Maharashtra political crisis on Thursday, both Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray claimed victory.
While Shinde called it a “legal” victory, Uddhav said the chief minister should now “resign on moral grounds”.
The top court was hearing cross-examination petitions filed by the Uddhav and Shinde factions. on thursday it questioned The then governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to call the floor test last year was based on the request of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, who rebelled against Uddhav’s leadership under Shinde when he was the CM. The rebellion eventually brought down Uddhav’s government.
Former CM had demanded disqualification of 16 MLAs of Shinde faction including Shinde himself.
The court said that Koshyari did not have “objective material to conclude that the then CM Uddhav Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House”.
However, the bench also said that status quo cannot be restored as Uddhav had resigned and did not face the floor test, and the governor was right in calling on Eknath Shinde to form the government.
‘Truth wins’
Addressing a press conference after the court’s verdict, Shinde said, “It is the victory of truth.” Today’s verdict is expected in a democracy. Majority is given importance in a democracy. The government that we have formed has been formed in a legal and constitutional manner and today the Supreme Court has also proved the same.
His deputy Devendra Fadnavis also expressed “satisfaction”, saying: “Those who were speculating that this government would fall today have been silenced.”
Meanwhile, Uddhav termed the apex court’s order as a ‘victory for morality’.
“In today’s judgment, the Supreme Court ripped apart all the greedy people of power. Not only this, the dubious role of the Governor has also been blown to shreds and now there is a need to raise the question of whether the post of Governor should continue going forward or not.
‘Shind murdered democracy’
Quoting the SC observation that the floor test conducted by Koshyari in June 2022 was not in accordance with the law, the former CM said, “Eknath Shinde won after killing democracy. He should resign now on moral grounds.
On the court’s observation that status quo cannot be restored after his voluntary resignation, Uddhav said, “I am not fighting for myself.” My fight is for the country, my people. Legally it may be wrong, but morally… being sentimental may be my fault. Why do I need to prove (my majority) to those (MLAs) traitors who betrayed me and my father’s party? I dont want to do.
“If there is an iota of morality left in them (Shinde-Fadnavis) after hearing the verdict and how it broke the greedy people of power, they should resign like me,” he said.
However, Fadnavis said in his press conference that Uddhav should not speak about morality. Today Uddhav Thackeray said He Resigned on moral grounds I want to ask him, you were elected in alliance with BJP and then formed government with NCP and Congress, where was your morality then? You left ideology for power, Shinde left power and joined opposition for ideology.
He further claimed that Uddhav resigned because he did not have the numbers, and not for any other reason.
Supreme Court judgment gives power to Speaker to decide on disqualification notice issued for 16 MLAs including Shinde. It was also observed that Bharat Gogavale, the chief whip of Shinde Sena, was appointed illegally.
Uddhav said, “Even though the decision is with the Speaker, my whip will be that of the Shiv Sena at that time.” he also demanded Former Governor Koshyari He should be punished for his role, otherwise in future anyone will act according to their convenience and if not investigated now, it will set a precedent.
Shinde, however, said that since the Election Commission has decided that they have legislative and political standing, “the Speaker will take a decision based on that”.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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