Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, July 20: The Supreme Court, hearing pleas relating to the Sena vs Sena legal battle over rebellion in the party, said on Wednesday that the issues involved in the Maharashtra petitions need to be referred to a larger bench for consideration. However, the court will decide on the matter during the next hearing, likely to be held on August 1.
The bench, led by CJI NV Ramana, asked both Thackeray and Shinde factions to frame issues they wanted to argue, make one compilation and submit it preferably by next Wednesday. It also directed the respondents to file a common affidavit if they want to deny any allegations. Disqualification proceedings, the election of a Speaker, recognition of the whip and floor test among other issues are the subject matters of the dispute.
As for the Uddhav side, prominent attorney Kapil Sibal said, “Let the status quo be maintained. The status quo should be recognised, and no faction should suffer.”
The change occurs about a month after the state’s MVA government was overthrown by Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde, who is now the chief minister of Maharashtra.
As a result of 12 of its 19 Lok Sabha members switching their allegiance to Shinde on Tuesday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena experienced a further setback and named Rahul Shewale, a two-term member, as their leader in the lower chamber.
