Here's why the Maharashtra legislature issued show-cause notices to 53 Shiv Sena MLAs

The Maharashtra Legislature Secretary has issued show-cause notices to 53 Shiv Sena MLAs in the state, including 39 from the faction led by Eknath Shinde and 14 from the Uddhav Thackeray group. Santosh Bangar, one of the 14 Thackeray MLAs, joined the Shinde camp on the day of the latter's government's floor test on July 4. MLAs from both parties confirmed receiving the showcase notice.

 

Both parties have alleged each other of disobeying the party leadership during the Speaker's election and the trust vote on July 3 and 4, respectively, and have sought the disqualification of legislators from both parties. The Shinde faction has not included the name of Aaditya Thackeray, son of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, on the list of MLAs who have been disqualified.

 

The notices were issued in accordance with the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (disqualification for defection) rules. According to sources, the legislators have been given seven days to explain their position. The Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs in the Assembly, which now has 287 members due to the death of a Sena legislator. 164 MLAs voted in favour of the motion of confidence, while 99 voted against it.

 

Following the Shiv Sena's victory in the state Assembly trust vote on July 4, the Eknath Shinde group issued a notice to 14 legislators from the Uddhav Thackeray camp for breaching a whip issued by Sena whip and Shinde loyalist Bharat Gogawale. A day before the floor test, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar appointed Gogawale as Shiv Sena's Chief whip,  removing Sunil Prabhu, a Thackeray faction member. Rahul Narvekar of the BJP was elected Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly on July 3. He received 164 votes, defeating Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena candidate Rajan Salvi, who received 107 votes.

 

 

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