The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker regarding the approval of the merger of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MPs with the faction led by Eknath Shinde. The court's action comes amid a political dispute over the recognition of the two factions of the Shiv Sena party.
The notice asks the Speaker to respond on the legality of the merger decision. The matter is part of a larger legal battle between the rival Shiv Sena groups. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction has challenged the approval, arguing that it violated party rules and constitutional provisions.
The Shiv Sena split occurred in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, resulting in the formation of two separate factions. The Shinde faction later merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party to form a government in Maharashtra. The merger of MPs from the Thackeray faction into the Shinde group was approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker, which has now been questioned in court.
The Supreme Court's notice indicates that it is examining the procedural and legal aspects of the merger. The Speaker has been given time to submit a response. The next hearing is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
This case has significant implications for the stability of the Maharashtra government and the interpretation of anti-defection laws in India.