Sena flouting Balasaheb’s word to EC’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Recently, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had made a statement that the Shiv Sena follows its leader and its constitution and the party will hold elections according to that constitution. But, the Shinde group has alleged that this statement of Uddhav is misleading.

“The information given by Uddhav is misleading. In 2013 and 2018, the constitution of Shiv Sena was amended, in which the post of Shiv Sena chief was kept intact while creating a new post of Party Chief.”

“Balasaheb Thackeray had given an assurance to EC 1998 that a democratic system would be implemented in the party. But, in the party elections held in 2013 and 2018, the demo-

—Rahul Shewale

cratic system was not implemented. There was no objection to Uddhav Thackeray’s party chief post and no voting was held for other posts,” claimed Shewale.

Uddhav had commented that EC should not give decision until decision of Supreme Court regarding the disqualification of 16 MLAs. Speaking on this, Shewale said, “Decision of SC regarding disqualification of MLAs is still pending. But SC hassaid that EC is an independent system and it has the right to make decisions. It is unfortunate that they don’t know this decision.”

"Balasaheb Thackeray looks like Shiv Sena chief, so we fixed that word or kept it as it is. After that I created the post of Shiv Sena party chief and I am looking after the affairs since last few years. In Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) the post of a prominent leader is unconstitutional. The traitors who claims to be the leader of Shiv Sena have told us that the Shiv Sena constitution is not acceptable to us. As per the Shiv Sena constitution, they then created some posts. There is the post of head of the department. What the commission has said we have completed that. We have submitted the affidavits of our office bearers. We have also shown the number of our members. Now if the traitor group claims that an elected MP or MLA is a party, then it is ridiculous. Because then the Election Commission did not need to wait so long. So I have no reason to be surprised. But if we believe that there is democracy in the country, then there is democracy within the party also. We make choices accordingly", he said. Citing the age old question of what came first chicken or egg, Thackeray said, "It is a very despicable and perverse act that those who broke the mandate of the party on June 20 should claim against Shiv Sena. The disqualification should be decided first. It happened in the month of June. In July, anti-Sena faction went to the commission and filed a claim against the Shiv Sena (Thackeray). According to some constitutional experts, disqualification should be fixed first. If they are going to be disqualified, how can the Election Commission accept their claim?

First India Bureau Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut is also challenging Shinde to contest the elections from Worli seat. On this, Minister of State Shambhuraj Desai has challenged Sanjay Raut to contest the elections without their support. Desai said, “Sanjay Raut was elected on our votes and became a Rajya Sabha MP. He should resign and contest again. He should try get elected as MP without us.”

“We have strictly followed the rules, the constitution, the procedure of the Election Commission. We have taken this stand within the framework of the law. We believe in the judiciary. We believe in the provisions contained in the Constitution of the Central Election Commission. So we are confident that justice will be served,”

40 out of 55 MLAs and 13 out of 18 MPs are on our side, he said added Desai. Desai further said, “We have more MLAs and MPs, so they will not be able to hijack the party. We will know the decision of the Election Commission. People from both sides have gone to court, so we all should believe in God for justice.” Desai also expressed confidence that the verdict of the court will be in favour of the Shinde group while saying that ‘40 out of 55 MLAs and 13 out of 18 MPs are on our side.’