34 rebel MLAs had signed the no-confidence motion.
The tussle between the Shiv Sena leadership and rebels MLAs, which threatens to bring down the Maharashtra government, moved from the hotel to the courtroom today. Acting on Eknath Shinde's petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to him and 15 other rebel MLAs last week, the Supreme Court issued notices to Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu, leader of Legislature party Anil Chaudhary and the Centre. The top court will now hear the matter on July 11.
Eknath Shinde, who leads the rebellion, had challenged the Uddhav Thackeray leadership's move to disqualify him and 15 other MLAs in the Supreme Court.
The Shinde camp also challenged the rejection of a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narahari Zirwal.
34 rebel MLAs had signed the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal.
Here are the Highlights on the Maharashtra Crisis:
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Uddhav Thackeray Wanted To Quit, Stopped Twice By Alliance Leader: SourcesUddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, wanted to resign after the Shiv Sena revolt exploded but was stopped twice by a senior alliance leader, sources said today.
The Shiv Sena chief stopped short of resigning "not once but twice", the sources said.
Mr Thackeray would have resigned on June 21 (last Tuesday), the day Eknath Shinde and 21 rebels moved to Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat and went incommunicado.
Uddhav Thackeray Wanted To Quit, Stopped Twice By Top Alliance Leader: Sources
Uddhav Thackeray's government faces a tough test with rebels staying firm
Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, wanted to resign after the Shiv Sena revolt exploded but was stopped twice by a senior alliance leader, sources said today.
The Shiv Sena chief stopped short of resigning "not once but twice", the sources said.
Mr Thackeray would have resigned on June 21 (last Tuesday), the day Eknath Shinde and 21 rebels moved to Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat and went incommunicado.
Uddhav Thackeray decided to quit the same day and had planned to announce it in a Facebook livestream around 5 pm. "But he was persuaded not to quit by the biggest leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance," the sources said.
BJP hold a core committee meeting after Supreme Court ruling.
"A Win For Balasaheb's Hindutva": Eknath Shinde Claims Sena Legacy After Relief From Supreme CourtEknath Shinde, leader of an ongoing mutiny against the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra, claimed a victory on Monday evening after the Supreme Court gave time until July 12 for the rebel Sena MLAs to respond to notices for their possible disqualification from assembly membership. The original deadline was 5.30 pm, Monday.
The notices to Mr Shinde and 15 other legislators were issued by the deputy speaker after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena sought action under the anti-defection law.
"Victory of Balasaheb's Hindutva": Rebel Eknath Shinde decision on Supreme Court decisionRebel Eknath Shinde has reacted on the Supreme Court's decision which extended the deadline given to the rebel MLAs to file their responses to the disqualification notices till July 12.
"Victory of Balasaheb's hindutva," tweeted rebel Eknath Shinde.
Sanjay Raut should use words carefully: Shrikant ShindeKalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, on Monday asked party leader Sanjay Raut to watch his mouth, a day after the latter's "bodies without souls" remarks against the dissident MLAs camping in Guwahati caused a flutter. Talking to reporters at the 'Shakti Sthal' memorial of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe here, Shrikant said Raut should be careful about the choice of words as he is also the father of someone and his family is watching his remarks.
"This is not the culture of Maharashtra. The state is watching the manner in which he is passing comments. This happens when one realises that power is slipping out of hand," the MP said.
"Traitors Never Win": Aaditya Thackeray On Sena Rebels After Court HearingMaharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday threw another dare at rebel Shiv Sena leaders to come face to face and tell him what's wrong with the government. The government and the party, led by Aaditya Thackeray's father Uddhav Thackeray, are facing a mutiny by senior leader Eknath Shinde's faction and nearly 40 of the 55 Sena MLAs.
Aaditya Thackeray called the Shinde camp "traitors, not rebels", and said, "Those who betray... they never win. We are confident of and are getting a lot of love." His comments came as the political slugfest reached the Supreme Court, which will next hear the matter on July 12.
Those who flee can never win: Aaditya Thackeray
"Those who flee can never win. I am yet to read the court order. I need to read it. They will have to face us some day," said Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray.
"There should be no trust vote till issues are decided": Uddhav Thackeray faction to Court"There should be no trust vote to alter the status quo of government till these issues are decided. We have apprehension that these MLAs will seek a floor test. In such a situation we should be allowed to approach the court," Uddhav Thackeray faction told Supreme Court.
To which the Supreme Court said, "Let us not create any confusion on something for which there is no foundation today. If any illegality takes place then every citizen can approach court."
Maharashtra government informs the top court that adequate security steps have already been taken and it will further ensure that there is no harm to the life, liberty and property of the 39 MLAs and their families
Advocate Kaul for Shinde camp asks the Supreme Court to extend the security measures to all 39 MLAs not just those who received disqualification notices.
Supreme Court: Maharashtra government to take adequate security measures for protection of all 39 MLAs and their family members.
Maharashtra government informs the Supreme Court that immediate steps will be taken to protect life, liberty and property of the petitioners and MLAs to whom disqualification notices have been sent.
Supreme Court: As an interim measure, the time granted by Deputy Speaker to the petitioners to submit their written submissions by 5:30 pm be extended till 11 July 5:30 pm.
The petitioners or other MLAs shall be at liberty to reply to the notice without prejudice to their rights pending in the pleas.
Justice Surya Kant, on the issue of whether the Deputy Speaker's notice should be put on hold, said, "We need to give reasonable opportunity to everyone. Everyone should get breathing time so that we can respond to all questions on merits. All issues will be determined by us."
The Supreme Court is yet to give the order on the 5:30pm deadline matter.
Supreme Court issues notice to Deputy Speaker, Chief whip Sunil Prabhu and leader of Legislature party Anil Chaudhary, and Centre on Eknath Shinde's plea on the issue of Deputy Speaker's notice to MLAs and the 5:30 pm deadline.
The top court directs to file affidavits within three days and counter affidavits in five days.
Rejoinders will be filed three days thereafter.
The matter will be heard next on July 11.
Justice Surya Kant: The question is the MLAs moved a motion against the Deputy Speaker
Rajiv Dhawan for Deputy Speaker: But until the veracity of such a communication is authenticated it cannot be taken on record.
Justice Surya Kant: Then how do you ascertain genuineness?
Rajiv Dhawan for Deputy Speaker: The letter was not sent from a registered email id. We can pose the question who are you to send? It was sent by some advocate Vishal Acharya ... Just because some signatures are added it does not mean that it becomes a valid document
Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhawan for the Deputy Speaker said, "There was a notice by the MLAs which we received. The Deputy Speaker also replied to the notice. It is not on record yet, but we will will place it on record before the court."
Justice Surya Kant asks, "If Deputy Speaker is saying that he is rejecting the motion that seeks his removal the question is can the Deputy Speaker be the Judge of his own court?"
Supreme Court asks Advocate Singhvi if a Deputy Speaker can himself decide on a letter that is against him. "Yes, he can do that," Advocate Singhvi responds.
Justice Suryakant: "The matter was different in the earlier decisions of the Supreme Court. Things are totally different here. Here the continuation of the Deputy Speaker himself is under challenge."
Advocate Singhvi: "When they knew that they are going to face disqualification proceedings, what simpler thing to do than send a two line letter against Deputy Speaker himself?"
"Judicial review cannot take place at this stage. There can be no court intervention until the proceedings are pending," Senior Advocate Singhv said.
The supporters of rebel Maharashtra minister Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar, who is camping with the Eknath Shinde-led group in Guwahati, and some Shiv Sena workers came face to face with each other in Kolhapur district on Monday.
However, police intervened and tried to keep the two groups away from each other to avoid a clash, a senior police official said. (PTI)
Maharashtra Political Crisis: Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhv appearing for Shiv Sena said, "The Deputy Speaker has the right to take the decisions first. Court interference can take place only subsequently."
Advocate Kaul said, "It is constitutionally impermissible for him to go ahead with disqualification proceedings if motion for his removal is still pending ... At least 14 days are supposed to be given to MLAs to respond."
Advocate Kaul had earlier mentioned that the MLAs were given only two days to respond which is not reasonable time and deadline ends at 5:30 pm today.
Judges have said that they are taking a two minute break and have gotten up from the bench.
Supreme Court said, "Issue of whether Deputy Speaker cannot proceed or not is what you are questioning? Now the question that Deputy Speaker not competent to proceed against you...why cannot you raise these objections against Deputy Speaker himself?"
Bench tells Advocate Kaul for the Shinde camp that it understands that they perceive threat. "We do not have means to verify but your claim. Other issue is you say lack of reasonable time. We see time expiring," the bench said.
Advocate NK Kaul for rebel Shinde camp said that the challenge in the two pleas is against disqualification notice by the Deputy Speaker. He said, "It's unconstitutional how the notice was issued."
Maharashtra Political Crisis: Hearing begins before bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice JB Pardiwala.
Maharashtra Political Crisis: Rebel Eknath Shinde moves Supreme Court with a new plea, says the lives of rebel MLAs are under serious threat from the Shiv Sena cadre.
Following summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Sanjay Raut said that a "conspiracy is going on".
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray hands over portfolios of nine ministers, who are camping in Guwahati, to other ministers. (PTI)
A gathering of Shiv Sainiks was held in Gangapur-Vaijapur assembly constituency today under Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire and liaison chief Vinod Ghosalkar.
"It is not a rebellion but what the people of Maharashtra want. What does he (Sanjay Raut) mean by 'bringing bodies from Guwahati'? This is not the culture of Maharashtra. He should threaten other people but not us," Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena MP and son of Eknath Shinde, said in Thane. (ANI)
Shiv Sena rebel MLA Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde said, "We will win the court battle. My best wishes to Sanjay Raut on ED summons. People of Maharashtra are seeing what is happening, they will give a reply on this. All MLAs with take a decision today and will see what happens in future."
Shiv Sena's newly-appointed Legislature Party leader Ajay Choudhari arrives at Vidhan Bhavan. Supreme Court to hear today the plea against the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Eknath Shinde. (ANI)
"Do you not feel any pain while sitting in the Cabinet with Chhagan Bhujbal who had arrested Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray?", says rebel Shiv Sena MLA Subhash Sabne in a video released by Eknath Shinde.
Maharashtra Crisis: The cases are listed before a bench of Supreme Court Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala and are likely to come up for hearing after 12-12.30pm. (ANI)
The matter is listed as item number 34 on the Supreme Court's cause list today.
With the Centre providing Y-plus security to Maharashtra's rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, the party on Monday claimed it was now evident that the BJP was "pulling the strings" amid the current political turmoil in the state.
An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' likened the rebel Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde to "big bulls", and alleged that they have been "sold" for Rs 50 crore. (PTI)
Maharashtra Crisis: Eknath Shinde and the rebel camp will be represented by Senior Advocate and Former Solicitor General Harish Salve and Senior advocate and former ASG Neeraj Kishan Kaul.
Narhari Zirwal, Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, will be represented by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi will appear for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and Senior Advocate Devdutt Kamat will represent the Maharashtra government.
The Centre will be represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Yesterday, the Eknath Shinde camp celebrated Narendra Bhondekar's birthday "with great enthusiasm" in Guwahati.
Maharashtra Crisis: Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi is expected to appear for the State.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear rebel MLA Eknath Shinde's plea challenging disqualification notices issued by Deputy Speaker to rebel MLAs.
Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde on Sunday tweeted, "How can Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That's why we took such a step, it's better to die." (ANI)
Maharashtra Crisis: Senior Advocate Harish Salve will represent Eknath Shinde in the Supreme Court today.