Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday, 8 July, moved the Supreme Court challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's decision to invite rebel Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to form the government in the state.
The Uddhav-led Sena faction has also challenged the Assembly speaker’s election and the floor test that proved the rebel camp's majority. The Thackeray camp has argued that the floor test was illegal since 16 rebel MLAs who voted were facing disqualification.
"We are concerned about democracy and the Constitution. I have faith in the judiciary. Everyone is watching what decision the judiciary will make. People are watching to see how strong our democracy is. I am not worried about the decision. The law will take its course," Thackeray said during a public address on Friday.
The Governor's order on 28 June had come hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, met Koshyari and urged to ask the Thackeray-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly, claiming that the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance was in minority.
The top court will hear the plea of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction on 11 July.
Thackeray Demands Mid-Term Polls
The former Maharashtra CM also demanded fresh elections to be conducted in the state.
"I challenge them to hold Assembly elections today. If we have done wrong, people will send us home. And if this is what you had to do, then you should have done it two and half years ago, and it would have been done respectfully. There would be no need for all this to happen," Thackeray was reported as saying by NDTV.
He also said that he would not permit anybody to take the traditional bow and arrow party symbol away from the Shiv Sena.
Speaking of the legislators who sided with him during the rebellion against the party leadership last month, Thackeray said, "I am proud of the 15-16 MLAs who are with me despite threats. This country thrives on Satyameva Jayate, not Asatyameva Jayate."
Eknath Shinde had taken oath as the new chief minister amid chants of 'Balasaheb Thackeray,' while BJP leader Fadnavis was sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on 30 June.
Shinde had taken oath in less than 24 hours after Thackeray stepped down as the chief minister of the state following the Supreme Court's order to conduct a floor test on Thursday.
On 4 July, the rebel camp had received 164 votes in the 288-member Assembly, sailing through the majority mark of 144. Meanwhile, only 99 MLAs voted against it.
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