Govt will remain stable: Devendra Fadnavis ahead of speaker's verdict on disqualification pleas

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the Shiv Sena-BJP government will remain stable, remarks coming a day ahead of the verdict to be pronounced by the assembly speaker on disqualification pleas against CM Eknath Shinde and other MLAs of Shiv Sena, reported news agency PTI.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader stressed that the alliance government is "legal" and hoped the speaker's ruling will give justice to them, reported PTI.

Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar will deliver the verdict on the disqualification pleas against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs whose rebellion had split the Shiv Sena in June 2022, Vidhan Bhavan officials said on Monday.

The Supreme Court had set the deadline for delivering the ruling on December 31, 2023, which was subsequently extended till January 10.

"The speaker will take a proper and legal decision. Our side is strong. The government formed by us (BJP and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde) is legally strong. We expect that we will get justice from the Speaker....Our government was stable yesterday and it will remain stable tomorrow as well," Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur, reported PTI.

In June 2022, Eknath Shinde and several MLAs rebelled against the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, leading to a split in the Shiv Sena and fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprised the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

Cross petitions were filed by the Shinde and Thackeray factions seeking action against each other under anti-defection laws.

"The verdict is expected to be out after 4pm on January 10. The Speaker's office is finalising the verdict," Vidhan Bhavan officials said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday hit out at Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar for meeting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ahead of his judgment on the petitions seeking disqualification of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.

Addressing a press conference, Uddhav Thackeray claimed Narwekar's meeting with Shinde on Monday is akin to a "judge meeting a criminal".

Thackeray said since the SC directed Narwekar in May last year to take a decision on the pleas seeking disqualification of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, the speaker has met the chief minister twice.

"What justice can we expect from him tomorrow," the former CM said.

(With inputs from PTI)