Following the Supreme Court verdict on the Shiv Sena crisis on Thursday, both sides—the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena and the Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Shiv Sena (UBT)—are claiming victory.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told media that the SC verdict is an endorsement of their government. On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray said Shinde and Fadnavis must resign on moral grounds. The apex court held that it cannot restore the then MVA government led by Uddhav as he resigned without facing the floor test in June last year.
Explaining the verdict, Fadnavis and Shinde said that the SC's decision is a tight slap on the faces of those who called the government illegal and unconstitutional. "The verdict clearly states that the governor was justified in inviting Eknath Shinde to form the government as Uddhav Thackeray had resigned," said Fadnavis quoting the SC ruling.
He also pointed out that the decision regarding disqualification will be taken by the Speaker alone as the verdict had stated.
Uddhav said that a delegation from his party will meet Speaker Rahul Narvekar and request him to decide on the petitions of disqualification at the earliest."All the documents are there; this verdict is also very clear victory for us. We will appeal the Speaker not to delay the decision," said Anil Parab, senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT).
While the Uddhav faction is interpreting the verdict as a moral victory, the BJP and Shinde camp are seeing it as a stamp of approval from the SC.
The real winner in this battle will be decided only after Speaker Narvekar takes a decision on disqualification petitions before him. The SC in its order has not set a time-frame for the Speaker. It has merely said that the Speaker should decide within a reasonable time.
