The Supreme Court on Monday declined to issue an interim stay on the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision to approve the merger of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The court posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant had filed a petition challenging the Speaker's ruling, arguing that the merger was 'unconstitutional' and 'perverse'. He sought an interim order to halt its implementation, but the bench refused to give any such assurance.
The case is part of the ongoing political battle between the two Shiv Sena factions, which split in 2022 after a rebellion led by Shinde. The Supreme Court is already hearing a related petition on the disqualification of MLAs. The court's decision means the Speaker's approval of the merger will remain in effect for now.
The merger approval allows 12 Uddhav Sena MPs to be considered part of the Shinde faction, potentially affecting the balance of power in Parliament. The court will hear the matter again after two weeks.