Sena split: Regular hearing on disqualification pleas to begin on Oct 13

In a step forward, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar would announce the schedule of formal hearings vis-a-vis the disqualification proceedings of the Shiv Sena in the next few days. 

The regular hearings are expected to commence from 13 October, it was decided on Monday at a meeting chaired by Narwekar in the Central Hall of Maharashtra Legislature

“The procedural part of the hearings on the disqualification pleas were discussed in the meeting,” the lawyers said after the hearing on Monday. 

In June 2022, Shinde, who is now the chief leader of Shiv Sena, had toppled the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation - triggering  the bunch of disqualification petitions from both the sides, which claim to be the original legislature party. 

On 17 February, the Election Commission legitimised Shinde-faction as real Shiv Sena and allotted the bow and arrow symbol.

On 11 May, the Supreme Court stated that Thackeray's position as Chief Minister cannot be restored as he had resigned before the floor test. However, it had passed strictures on the functioning of then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. 

Disqualification petitions have been filed against 39 MLAs, Sakhare informed. After the split in the Shiv Sena, the party name and symbol was given to the Shinde group, while the faction led by Thackeray was christened Shiv Sena (UBT).