Disqualification pleas: Official hearing to begin on Oct 13; CM Shinde group opposes clubbing of petitions

Rahul Narvekar. File Pic

After hearing arguments from both Shiv Sena factions- led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has decided to conduct official hearing on disqualification petitions against the MLAs of the CM Shinde group on October 13, advocate Anil Sakhare who is representing the CM said on Monday, reported the PTI.

The Shiv Sena split in June last year following a rebellion by CM Eknath Shinde, who went on to become CM after unseating the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

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The Uddhav Thackeray faction had sought disqualification of several MLAs, including CM Shinde, under anti-defection laws.

Speaking to reporters on the Vidhan Bhavan premises, advocate Anil Sakhare said, "Speaker Rahul Narwekar heard our arguments as we are opposed to clubbing of all the petitions filed before him. Our demand is to conduct independent hearings of those petitions," according to the PTI.

"The Speaker may announce the schedule of the hearings in the next couple of days. The first hearing will commence on October 13. Official arguments will be made regarding the hearing of all the petitions together or separately," Anil Sakhare added, as per the PTI.

He said there was no official hearing during the day and only the procedural part was decided.

Responding to a query on the issue, Sakhare said the Thackeray faction wants to club all petitions together and conduct a hearing, whereas the Shinde group is against such a proposal.

Disqualification petitions have been filed against 39 MLAs, Sakhare informed.

After the split in the Shiv Sena, the party name and symbol was given to the Shinde group, while the faction led by Thackeray was christened Shiv Sena (UBT).

Meanwhile, earlier on September 11, the Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar had said he would hear everyone's side before deciding on disqualification pleas filed against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other MLAs of his camp, the PTI had reported.

Rahul Narwekar had in July said that he had issued notices to 40 MLAs of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 14 of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, seeking their replies on disqualification petitions against them.

The notices were issued against a total of 54 MLAs, including CM Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.

(with PTI inputs)