Mr Raut further said that the Shiv Sena was hopeful of the return of some dissident MLAs.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut made fun of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs on Tuesday, saying that the ruling required the rebel MLAs to take a break in Guwahati till July 11 because they had no job to do in Maharashtra.
The top court granted Mr. Shinde and other MLAs permission on Monday to respond by July 12 to the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly’s notification of their disqualification.
“It is an order for them to rest there (in Guwahati) till July 11. There is no work for them in Maharashtra,” said Mr Raut.
Mr Raut further said that the Shiv Sena was hopeful of the return of some dissident MLAs.
“There are still a few MLAs whom we do not consider rebels, as they are in touch with us. Their families are also in touch with us and we are hopeful that they would return to us,” Mr Raut said.
The Shiv Sena leader added that the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis shouldn’t get engaged in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government’s dilemma as it is developing. If they do, Mr. Raut said, “their party’s (the BJP), Fadnavis’s, and Prime Minister Modi’s names would be soiled.”
Until then, sources claim that the rebels would remain in Assam for a few more days and are unlikely to travel back to Maharashtra before July 5.
“Rebel Maharashtra MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement,” sources said on Tuesday.
“Rebel Maharashtra MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement,” sources said on Tuesday.
On June 27, the Supreme Court granted Eknath Shinde and other MLAs temporary respite, allowing them to respond to notifications of disqualification sent to them by the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly by July 12 at 5 p.m.
“This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe,” Mr Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11.
The Shinde group’s petitions contesting the Deputy Speaker’s decision to issue disqualification letters to 16 rebel MLAs and the choice of Ajay Choudhary to lead the Shiv Sena Legislative Party were being heard by the highest court.
The bench also sent letters to Ajay Chaudhary, Sunil Prabhu, the Center, the Deputy Speaker, and the Secretary of the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, requesting that they respond in writing within five days.
Senior attorney Neeraj Kishan Kaul testified before the Supreme Court at the hearing on behalf of Eknath Shinde and others that the Deputy Speaker cannot begin the disqualification process while the resolution calling for his removal is still under consideration.
The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp.
They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families.
Mr Shinde, in his plea, stated that the Deputy Speaker has lost his position as the MVA government has been reduced to a minority and in such a situation, he has no authority to invoke provisions of the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986, and send notices to him and 15 other MLAs, which form part of the breakaway group of 38 Sena legislators.
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