Mumbai: Soon after the Supreme Court pronounced its ruling on the Maharashtra political crisis Thursday, both Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray claimed victory.
While Shinde called it a “legal” win, Uddhav said the CM should now “resign on moral grounds”.
The apex court was hearing a batch of cross-petitions filed by the Uddhav and Shinde factions. On Thursday, it questioned then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari’s decision to call a floor test last year based on the request of the Shiv Sena rebel MLAs, who, led by Shinde, had rebelled against Uddhav’s leadership when he was CM. The revolt ultimately toppled Uddhav’s government.
The former CM had sought the disqualification of 16 MLAs from the Shinde faction, including Shinde himself.
The court said that Koshiyari did not have “objective material before him to conclude that then CM Uddhav Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House”.
However, the bench also said that status quo ante could not be restored as Uddhav had resigned and did not face the floor test, and that the governor was correct in calling Eknath Shinde to form the government.
‘Triumph of truth’
Addressing a press conference after the court ruling, Shinde said, “It is the triumph of truth. Today’s verdict is what is expected in a democracy. In democracy, the importance is given to the majority. The government that we formed is in a legal and constitutional manner, and today, the Supreme Court also proved the same.”
His deputy Devendra Fadnavis too expressed “satisfaction”, saying: “Those who were speculating that this government will collapse today have been silenced now.”
Meanwhile, Uddhav called the apex court’s order a “victory of morality”.
“In today’s verdict, the Supreme Court tore apart all of them who are greedy for power. Not just that, it also tore apart the dubious role of the Governor and now going forward whether the post of Governor should remain or not is the question that needs to be raised.”
‘Shinde murdered democracy’
Citing the SC’s observation that the floor test conducted by Koshyari in June 2022 was not in accordance with the law, the ex-CM said, “Eknath Shinde won after murdering democracy. He should now resign on moral grounds.”
On the court’s observation that status quo ante could not be restored since he resigned voluntarily, Uddhav said, “I am not fighting for myself. My fight is for the country, my people. According to the law, it might be wrong, but morally…Being emotional could be my flaw. Why do I need to prove (my majority) to those (MLAs) traitors who betrayed me and my father’s party? I don’t have to.”
“If they (Shinde-Fadnavis) have any bit of morality left in them after hearing the verdict and how it tore apart those greedy for power, then they should resign like I did,” he added.
However, Fadnavis at his press conference said that Uddhav should not be speaking about morality. “Today Uddhav Thackeray said he resigned on moral grounds. I want to ask him, you got elected in an 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 us in the opposition for ideology.”
He further claimed that Uddhav resigned because he did not have the numbers, and not because of any other reason.
The Supreme Court’s decision gave the Speaker the power to decide on the disqualification notices issued to 16 MLAs including Shinde. It also observed that the chief whip of Shinde Sena Bharat Gogavale was appointed illegally.
“Even though the decision rests with the Speaker, the whip will be of my Shiv Sena of that time,” said Uddhav. He also demanded that former governor Koshyari be punished for his role, else anyone in the future will act according to their convenience and this will be a precedent going forward if not checked now.
Shinde however said that since the Election Commission has decided he has the legislative and political party, “the Speaker will decide based on the same”.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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