Last week, the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, issued a decisive ruling, affirming the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena as the "real political party," signifying a substantial triumph for the three-party coalition government in the state. However, the coalition, comprising the BJP under Devendra Fadnavis, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) headed by Ajit Pawar, refrain from entering celebratory mode at present.
The Speaker's decision on the disqualification of Shiv Sena MLAs was widely expected, and the potential disqualification of Shinde could have precipitated the government's collapse and the dissolution of the alliance. Although Shinde and his supporters celebrated the decision, the BJP and Ajit Pawar maintained a conspicuous silence. Notably, in February 2023, following the Election Commission's allocation of Shiv Sena's name and symbol to Shinde, BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, ridiculed Uddhav Thackeray. This time, however, only Devendra Fadnavis posted on X (formerly Twitter), and that too, hours after the ruling.
Political speculations regarding Rahul Narvekar's stance against Uddhav Thackeray circulated, considering that all key figures involved in the disqualification case, such as Eknath Shinde, his MLAs, and Narvekar himself, were formerly associated with Uddhav Thackeray. Narvekar, who was part of Shiv Sena until 2013 and close to Aditya Thackeray, emerged as the Speaker who declared that the Shiv Sena 'pramukh' (chief) lacked the authority to expel any leader from the party.
However, the coalition government refrains from celebrating for a compelling reason: imminent decisions by the Election Commission and Maharashtra Assembly Speaker in the ongoing conflict between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. The government is cautious not to allow the 84-year-old Sharad Pawar to gain sympathy or bolster the Delhi versus Maharashtra sentiment. Despite speculation favoring Ajit Pawar, the Maharashtra government aims to prevent the opposition from garnering voter sympathy, though managing such statements during the election atmosphere poses a challenge.
Delving into the backdrop of the Maharashtra political crisis, in June 2022, Eknath Shinde, along with over 40 Shiv Sena MLAs, rebelled against then-CM Uddhav Thackeray, leading to the downfall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, inclusive of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress. Shinde aligned with the BJP, assuming the position of the new chief minister with Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
Cross-petitions were submitted by the Shinde and Thackeray factions to the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, invoking anti-defection laws. In May 2023, the Supreme Court directed Speaker Rahul Narwekar to deliver a judgment on the pleas. Following the decision favoring Shinde, the Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking a provisional stay on the Speaker's order.
