Amid high political drama in Maharashtra, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal is likely to start disqualification proceedings against 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs on Saturday. The Deputy speaker’s office is expected to send notices to the rebel MLAs and the disqualification hearing may take place on Monday.
The rebel MLAs will then have to fly to Mumbai from Guwahati to attend the hearing, something Eknath Shinde camp might resist through a legal battle.
As a first step, two independent MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp have moved a no-confidence motion against Zirwal to stop them from acting against the rebel MLAs.
So far, the Deputy Speaker has been favorably disposed towards the Uddhav Thackeray camp. The Deputy Speaker has accepted the Shiv Sena recommendation to appoint Ajay Choudhari as the Sena’s Legislature Party leader in place of Shinde. In doing so, the Deputy Speaker turned down suggestions by the Shinde camp to appoint Bharat Gogawala as the Sena’s whip.
The Sena is unlikely to seek disqualification of more MLAs because if the Deputy Speaker were to accept that demand, then the strength of the house will come down to the benefit of the BJP.
Thackeray camp hopes that if the MLAs return to Mumbai to attend the disqualification proceedings, they could be contacted and persuaded to come back to the party fold.
Meanwhile, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Friday evening met Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence. State NCP president Jayant Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar accompanied Pawar as he arrived at Rs Matoshree’, Thackeray’s private residence in Bandra area.
A day before, Pawar had said the NCP will do all it can to save the ruling alliance of the Sena, NCP and Congress.