Maharashtra poltical crisis: Supreme Court verdict on Eknath Shinde vs Uddhav Thackeray pleas today

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• May 11, 2023 | Kabir Chakraborty

The Shiv Sena's Thackeray and Shinde factions have both expressed confidence in their victory.

Digital Desk: On Thursday, the Supreme Court will decide on the year-long legal struggle between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath
Shinde.

The bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and
Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha will decide
whether Eknath Shinde's mutiny and subsequent floor test were valid.

The Shiv Sena's Thackeray and Shinde factions have both expressed
confidence in their victory.

The Maharashtra government was thrown into disarray as Eknath
Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav with 40 MLAs in June 2022. Shinde and his
allies relocated to Assam and then claimed their claim to form the government
with the backing of the BJP.

Uddhav Thackeray resigned, resulting in the fall of
Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration, which included the
Shiv Sena, Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party. Later, the Uddhav side
petitioned the Supreme Court for the disqualification of the MLAs who defected
to the Shinde camp. After lengthy consideration, the Election Commission
recognized the Shinde fraction as the genuine Shiv Sena and handed the Shinde
faction the original bow and arrow insignia of Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena.
Uddhav's faction was allotted the symbol of a flaming torch and the new name Shiv
Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.

 According to MP Sanjay
Raut, the Supreme Court's decision would determine whether or not democracy
exists in the country. However, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra
Fadnavis stated that he believes Eknath Shinde will remain as chief minister
since the verdict will be in his favour. Shinde will be forced to quit if the
Supreme Court rules in favour of Uddhav Thackeray. Harish Salve, NK Kaul, and
Mahesh Jethmalani represent the Shinde camp, while Kapil Sibal and Abhishek
Manu Singhvi support Uddhav. Tushar Mehta represented BS Koshyari, who is
Solicitor General. During the previous hearing, the Supreme Court questioned
Koshyari's position and stated that a governor should not delve into any area
that could lead to the demise of a government.