Uddhav Thackeray to hold 'people's court' today afternoon against speaker Rahul Narwekar's ruling on disqualification of Shiv Sena MLAs

Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. File Pic

Uddhav Thackeray will hold a mega town hall "people's court" against Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar's ruling on disqualification of Shiv Sena MLAs, in Mumbai today afternoon. In the mega town hall, Thackeray will explain the discrepancies in Narvekar's ruling and will have dialogue with people and the press. The event is planned at Worli's National Sports Club of India's dome at 4 pm.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been attacking Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar's ruling on disqualification of Shiv Sena MLAs, alleging the order he has passed defies the framework laid down by the Supreme Court.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has released a teaser of the town hall on X where MP Sanjay Raut has dared PM Narendra Modi to hold a press conference. "Out side is the side of the constitution, democracy and truth," Raut said.

It is said that in the press conference Tuesday afternoon, the Thackeray group will bring the videos and documents to the public of the internal party elections from 2013 to 2018. Eminent lawyers from Delhi are also expected to join the town hall.

On Monday the Shiv Sena (UBT) moved to the Supreme Court challenging Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's order declaring the Shiv Sena bloc led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the "real political party" after its split in June 2022.

In his ruling on the disqualification petitions on January 10, the speaker had not disqualified any MLA from the rival camps. Rahul Narwekar had said no party leadership can use provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law) to quell dissent or indiscipline within a party.

The CM Shinde group had the support of 37 out of the total 54 Sena MLAs when party split in June 2022, the speaker had noted in the order. The Election Commission had given the 'Shiv Sena' name and 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Eknath Shinde-led faction in early 2023.

Meanwhile, Raut also slammed the BJP for building the Ram temple in Ayodhya three kilometeres away from Babri Masjid. "Lord Ram was born under the Babri Masjid and for the same it was demolished to build a Ram Mandir. Then why it is not build on the same spot? Why there was spread of hatred against Muslims? We Hindus should oppose the politics in the name of religion in country's interest", Raut added.