Maha speaker to deliver verdict on Sena split on Jan 10

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar will on January 10 deliver his verdict on the disqualification petitions against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs whose rebellion had split the Shiv Sena in June 2022, Vidhan Bhavan officials said on Monday.

The deadline set by the Supreme Court for delivering the verdict was December 31, 2023, but some days before that, on December 15, the apex court gave a 10-day extension and set January 10 as the new date for a decision.

In June 2022, Shinde and several MLAs had rebelled against then CM Uddhav Thackeray, leading to a split in the Sena and fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprised the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

Cross petitions were filed by the Shinde and Thackeray factions seeking action against the other under anti-defection laws.

"The verdict is expected to be out after 4 pm on January 10. The Speaker's office is finalising the verdict," Vidhan Bhavan officials said.

"The operative part of the verdict is likely to be announced on that day, while the detailed order will be given to both groups later," they added.

Functionaries from both factions said they would approach the Supreme Court in case of an unfavourable verdict from the Speaker.

After the rebellion in June 2022, Shinde went on to become CM with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In July last year, the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party joined his government.

The Election Commission gave the 'Shiv Sena' name and 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Shinde-led faction, while the one headed by Thackeray was to be called Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray with its symbol being a flaming torch.