Eknath Shinde's Faction Declared 'Real Shiv Sena' by Maharashtra Speaker

Ruling Dismisses Disqualification Petitions, Poses Setback for Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar ruled that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction is the 'real Shiv Sena', and the MLAs of his camp cannot be disqualified.
The decision is a major setback for Uddhav Thackeray, who does not have the power to remove Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena.
The disqualification petitions from both camps were dismissed by the Speaker.
The decision implies that the whip issued by Shinde's faction stands, and the MLAs who supported Thackeray risk disqualification.
The Election Commission had previously recognized the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena and gave it ownership of the bow and arrow election symbol of the undivided party.