Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray. (File photo/PTI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray further said that the Speaker should take a decision on the disqualification of the 16 MLAs at the earliest.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday challenged the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party to contest the elections in the “last court”, which he said were the people of the state. The statement came a day after the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief made this statement. The Supreme Court ruling on last year’s political crisis, resulted in the fall of the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government headed by him. Eknath Shinde, who rebelled against him and later joined hands with the BJP to become the chief minister.
“Let us all face fresh elections and let the people take the final call,” he said. As I have resigned, the chief minister (Eknath Shinde) should also resign on moral grounds,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference by NDTV.
Thackeray pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling that said he could have been reinstated as chief minister if he had not resigned, meaning actions taken by the governor, such as holding a floor test Calling was illegal.
“It means the present government is illegitimate. I am satisfied with my decision as I have resigned morally.” He further said that the Speaker should take a decision on the disqualification of the 16 MLAs at the earliest.
“Gift of life to 16 MLAs is temporary as Supreme Court has given due time” and has limits. The Speaker should take his decision at the earliest.”
Thackeray’s party colleague Anil Parab said he would write to Speaker Naverkar urging him to take a decision on the matter.
“We have been saying that this government is illegal. Whip plays an important role. The whip at that time belonged to Sunil Prabhu (Thackeray camp MLA) and that it was violated is well established. The Speaker should not take much time to decide on this. “There is no escape route for the rebel MLAs and very little time left for them,” Parab said.
What was the Supreme Court’s decision on the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis?
In its judgment on Thursday, the Supreme Court said it cannot restore the Thackeray-led MVA government as it had resigned in June last year without facing a floor test. The Court directed the Speaker to take a decision on the disqualification of the 16 MLAs within a reasonable time. It also ruled that the appointment of Bharat Gogawale of the Shinde faction in the assembly as the Shiv Sena’s whip in the assembly was contrary to law.
The court further said that it was not appropriate for the then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to ask Thackeray to prove his majority on the floor of the House as he had no objective reasons to conclude that Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House.
(With inputs from PTI)