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and Balaji Kalyankar.
On Wednesday, when Shinde’s deputy Devendra Fadnavis was asked by reporters whether the chief minister would step down in the event of an adverse decision on the disqualification of 16 MLAs of his camp, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said the discussion had no meaning. Not there.
“I am sorry to use the word but this is the domain of idiots. I am telling you that Eknath Shinde will continue to be the chief minister and we will fight the next elections under his leadership. Why will Shinde submit his resignation? No need to speculate No. What mistakes did he make?” Fadnavis asked.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar left for the UK in the early hours of Thursday. Talking to News18, he expressed confidence that the judiciary will not encroach on the powers of the legislature.
Narvekar’s statement came after the deputy speaker claimed that since Narvekar was in power during the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis, he would decide on the matter. “My UK trip was pre-scheduled. Will take appropriate action after returning from abroad.
What is 2022 Maharashtra political crisis?
Maharashtra Assembly’s deputy speaker Narhari Jirwal had last year sent notices to 16 Shiv Sena MLAs who had gone to Surat and fled to Guwahati along with Eknath Shinde. The matter then reached the Supreme Court as the faction led by Shinde refused to come to the negotiating table.
The lawyers of Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray camp argued in the apex court regarding the disqualification of 16 MLAs.
The Uddhav Thackeray group blamed Eknath Shinde and the BJP for the coup and challenged them to face fresh elections. On the other hand, the Shinde group rubbished the claim. Shinde group’s lawyers claimed that they did nothing “anti-party”, but were the “real Shiv Sena”. And thus fought for the election symbol of Shiv Sena and the legacy of Bal Thackeray.
Later in October, the Election Commission froze the Shiv Sena’s bow and arrow symbol. For the Andheri (East) assembly by-election held a month later, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction was named Mashaal (Torch) and Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray. The Shinde camp got the name Balasahebchi Shiv Sena and the symbol of two swords and a shield.