Uddhav Thackeray: Will take the issue to people’s court

Day after approaching Supreme Court against the Assembly Speaker’s contentious ruling on who the party belongs to, Thackeray says battle will decide future of democracy in India

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray questioned the proceedings of the Election Commission, stating that he is ready to face elections regardless of the Supreme Court order. Shiv Sena (UBT) held a press conference and a ‘people’s court’ on Tuesday to explain their side after the verdict from the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker last Wednesday. Thackeray stated that this is not just a battle for him or his party but a fight to save democracy.
 
In a much-awaited decision, the Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, declared the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena when the party, founded by Balasaheb Thackeray, split between the Shinde and Thackeray factions. Delivering the verdict, Narwekar stated that Uddhav Thackeray had no power to remove Eknath Shinde from the post of the legislature party leader, according to the Shiv Sena constitution.

Uddhav challenged the commission to hold elections as soon as possible. File pic

On Tuesday, Uddhav said, “We followed all the instructions from the Election Commission to prove our point. We also submitted 19,41,000 affidavits by party workers on stamp paper with Rs 100. They cross-verified it. Despite providing all the proofs, the Election Commission did not deliver justice. Why did they waste so much money spent by my party workers? They should return the money. We have already filed a case in the Supreme Court regarding the Election Commission’s decision. But why shouldn’t a case of fraud of stamp paper money be filed against the commission?” He also said that ED is the servant of the government.

When asked whether the party expects a decision by the Supreme Court in the next few months amid the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Uddhav challenged the commission to hold elections as soon as possible, stating that he is ready to face it regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision. He also challenged Speaker Narwekar and Shinde to come into the public without any security and then declare the decision on the real Sena. “Even I will come without any security. Just declare your decision, and then the public will decide the further course of action,” said Thackeray. He further emphasised that this is not just about him or Shiv Sena but a battle to save democracy.

The UBT Sena also displayed footage of a resolution on an amendment to the constitution of Shiv Sena in 2013 and internal elections in 2013 and 2018. Anil Parab, a leader of Sena, said, “We submitted all the footage and letters to the Election Commission, and we even have proof of submission. Despite this, the Election Commission said that they had data till 1999. We also have letters from the Election Commission where they addressed Uddhav Thackeray as the president of Shiv Sena.”

“If the commission doesn’t have data and didn’t have legal acceptance, then how did the president accept my letter of support to form the central government in 2019?” asked Thackeray. Advocate Asim Sarode, who represented Shiv Sena, explained the legal aspects. “The party is permanent, but the assembly group of any party is maximum for five years. So how can members in the assembly be declared as a party?” said Sarode.

Rahul Narwekar told the media, “I requested the Election Commission on June 22, 2023, to send Shiv Sena’s constitution. In response, they sent the constitution of 1999. After inquiring about any amendments to the constitution, the Election Commission stated that there is no letter dealing with the amendment of the new constitution. In the 2013 letter to the commission, the Shiv Sena did not mention the change in the constitution but only provided a letter regarding the selection of leaders. Why do they only show the letter and not disclose its contents?”

2013
Year UBT Sena says changes made to party’s constitution

19,41,000
No of affidavits submitted to the EC by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers on '100 stamp papers

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