Sunil Prabhu, an MLA from the Shiv Sena (UBT), has filed a petition to the Supreme Court, urging the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly to promptly resolve the disqualification petitions against the rebel legislators led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
On May 11, the Supreme Court directed Speaker Rahul Narwekar to determine the fate of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, who were accused of engaging in anti-party activities.
In his plea, Sunil Prabhu highlighted that despite the Supreme Court’s order to decide the pending disqualification petitions within a reasonable timeframe, no action has been taken thus far. He stated that he had already made three representations to the Speaker, but without any response.
Last year, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena, Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), collapsed due to a revolt against Uddhav Thackeray led by Eknath Shinde, resulting in a split within the Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde subsequently became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, with Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP serving as his deputy.
Sunil Prabhu’s recent petition comes after NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs, including Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, unexpectedly joined the Shinde-Fadnavis government. Ajit Pawar assumed the role of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.
In response, the NCP expelled five leaders, including senior party member and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel, as well as Sunil Tatkare, an MP. The party also initiated formal disqualification proceedings against Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who were sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde cabinet on Sunday (July 2).
