MUMBAI: As the deadline set by the Supreme Court draws closer in connection with the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs nears, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said that democracy has been destroyed in Maharashtra as the Speaker has taken one and a half years and not decided disqualification.
“Democracy has been destroyed in Maharashtra. We call the Election Commission a total compromise commission, they are not conducting Lok Sabha elections on Pune and Chandrapur seats…people have no voice even in the Municipal Corporation. So far the Speaker has taken one and a half years. He was expected to decide during this period. He is not just the Speaker, we look at him as a tribunal. But what if he (can’t decide)?” said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.
On Friday the Supreme Court extended till January 10 the time for Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to pronounce verdict on disqualification petitions against MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The speaker has sought extension of time to decide disqualification pleas against rebel MLAs of Shivsena and NCP. Earlier, Supreme Court asked Speaker to decide by December 31 the disqualification petitions pending before him.
Last year, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who was then a Minister in the Eknath Shinde cabinet broke away from the Shiv Sena along with a bunch of Shiv Sena MLAs, joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party and formed the government toppling the Uddhav Thackeray led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena claimed to be the ‘real’ party and claimed the party name and the symbol which was subsequently granted to the rebel group by the Election Commission.
However, a total of 56 rebel MLAs are facing disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution pending before Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar. (ANI)