MUMBAI: Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday flatly denied allegations that he had not considered the amended constitution of the Shiv Sena party while giving his ruling which recognised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s party as the real Shiv Sena. The allegations were made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders in a press conference where they showed letters claiming that they had provided amended copies to both the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Speaker’s office.
The issue of the party constitution is significant since the 1999 version says the party’s national executive is the highest decision-making body and the party president has to consult it before removing leaders. The 2018 amendment makes the party president supreme and his will as that of the party. After the party split in 2022, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had removed Shinde as the legislative party chief. If the 1999 version is considered, he could do so only after consulting the national executive.
“The Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders are showing their letters to the ECI in 2013 and 2018 as proof that they had provided copies of the amended constitution. But these letters merely declare the result of their internal party elections. They do not mention that the constitution was amended or give copies of the amended versions,” said Narwekar. “Half-truths are more damaging than lies,” he added.
He said that the Supreme Court had given him clear guidelines that in case rival factions showed different versions of the party constitution, had to consider that which was on record with the ECI. “The ECI informed me that the only party constitution on record was that of 1999. My ruling is in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling,” said Narwekar.
He denied that his decision to recognise the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena was based only on its majority in the legislature and without inquiring into the will of the political party as directed by the apex court. “In accordance to SC directives, I examined the constitution, the party’s organisational structure which I saw was not in accordance to its constitution and finally, the legislative strength of the factions,” said Narwekar.
Hitting out at Thackeray’s press conference which attacked him, Narwekar said, “Was it a press conference or a Dussera rally? I have decided to issue a clarification because they are creating misunderstandings which is not good in a parliamentary democracy.”
He said that Thackeray had shown no regard for constitutional posts. “He has used derogatory language towards the state Governor, the assembly speaker and even the apex court. This is very unfortunate,” said Narwekar.
The issue of the party constitution is significant since the 1999 version says the party’s national executive is the highest decision-making body and the party president has to consult it before removing leaders. The 2018 amendment makes the party president supreme and his will as that of the party. After the party split in 2022, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had removed Shinde as the legislative party chief. If the 1999 version is considered, he could do so only after consulting the national executive.
“The Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders are showing their letters to the ECI in 2013 and 2018 as proof that they had provided copies of the amended constitution. But these letters merely declare the result of their internal party elections. They do not mention that the constitution was amended or give copies of the amended versions,” said Narwekar. “Half-truths are more damaging than lies,” he added.
He said that the Supreme Court had given him clear guidelines that in case rival factions showed different versions of the party constitution, had to consider that which was on record with the ECI. “The ECI informed me that the only party constitution on record was that of 1999. My ruling is in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling,” said Narwekar.
He denied that his decision to recognise the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena was based only on its majority in the legislature and without inquiring into the will of the political party as directed by the apex court. “In accordance to SC directives, I examined the constitution, the party’s organisational structure which I saw was not in accordance to its constitution and finally, the legislative strength of the factions,” said Narwekar.
Hitting out at Thackeray’s press conference which attacked him, Narwekar said, “Was it a press conference or a Dussera rally? I have decided to issue a clarification because they are creating misunderstandings which is not good in a parliamentary democracy.”
He said that Thackeray had shown no regard for constitutional posts. “He has used derogatory language towards the state Governor, the assembly speaker and even the apex court. This is very unfortunate,” said Narwekar.