In a significant pronouncement, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared on Wednesday that the Eknath Shinde faction is the authentic representation of the Shiv Sena. This ruling not only secures the stability of the Shinde-led government, aligned with the BJP and a breakaway NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, but it also bestows bragging rights upon the Shiv Sena leader in anticipation of the critical Assembly polls slated for November. Speaker Narwekar asserted that Uddhav Thackeray lacked the authority to dismiss Eknath Shinde as the leader of the Shiv Sena legislative party during the 2022 rebellion. The Speaker anchored his decision in considering the 1999 constitution of the party as the "real constitution," emphasizing that the amended 2018 constitution, which purportedly reinstated power in the hands of the party chief, was not presented before the Election Commission of India (ECI).
According to the 1999 constitution, the concentration of power within the party was diffused from the party chief's hands. In contrast, the Thackeray faction contends that the constitution was amended in 2018, restoring authority to the party chief. However, the ECI maintains that the 2018 document was not submitted for its review. Speaker Narwekar unequivocally declared that the Shinde-led faction was the genuine Shiv Sena political party when rival factions emerged in 2022. The Speaker emphasized that the Shiv Sena 'pramukh' lacked the power to expel any leader from the party.
This ruling not only fortifies the stability of the Shinde government, which operates in coalition with the BJP and the NCP breakaway faction, but it also positions the Shiv Sena leader advantageously ahead of the pivotal Assembly polls scheduled for November.
For the Uddhav Thackeray faction, the only recourse appears to be seeking intervention from the Supreme Court. As the top court is already seized with the matter, the Speaker's decision awaits the final stamp of approval from the court, pending any challenges.
The setback for Uddhav Thackeray assumes significance amid ongoing seat-sharing discussions with MVA allies, including the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and Congress. The Shiv Sena has purportedly requested 23 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, citing its 2019 electoral performance. In the 2019 polls, the BJP secured 23 seats, the undivided Shiv Sena won 18, while the Congress and NCP claimed 1 and 4 seats, respectively.
Despite the 2022 rebellion by Eknath Shinde and around 39 loyal MLAs, Uddhav Thackeray retains substantial support from the majority of ground-level and shakha workers. Even during the height of Shinde's rebellion in 2022, a large contingent of Sena workers, including women, expressed their loyalty to the Thackerays through a padyatra (foot march) in Nagpur, illustrating the emotional connection many hold with the Thackeray leadership.
As the 2024 poll season approaches, Thackeray's Sena faction places reliance on ground-level workers to rejuvenate the party. The favorable outcome for the Shinde faction has injected new vigor into their aspirations, particularly for Eknath Shinde's potential projection as the Chief Ministerial face in the upcoming Assembly polls. This verdict also positions the Shinde faction prominently during seat-sharing discussions, countering assertions from BJP's state unit chief Chandrashekar Bawankule, who expressed the desire to see Devendra Fadnavis return as the chief minister. The Shinde faction dismissed these remarks, confidently asserting Eknath Shinde as the chief ministerial face of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the Assembly election.
