Shiv Sena UBT Objects to Meeting Between Narvekar, Shinde

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena UBT and its alliance partners have expressed fear that the decision on disqualification petitions against Shiv Sena legislators may not be fair. They objected to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar meeting chief minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence a few days ahead of his decision, which is expected on Wednesday.

The Shiv Sena UBT has moved the Supreme Court (again) objecting to the meeting between Narvekar and Shinde at CM’s official residence ‘Varsha’. Former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that it was liking a judge meeting the accused.

In its affidavit filed in the SC, the Shiv Sena UBT said it was improper on Narvekar’s part to meet Shinde three days before his verdict on the disqualification petitions.

Alleging that Narvekar’s conduct raises questions about the fairness of his decision, the Shiv Sena UBT said, “Under the 10th Schedule, the Speaker, as adjudicating authority must act in a fair and impartial manner. Speaker's conduct must inspire confidence.”

NCP leader Sharad Pawar also agreed with the objections raised by his alliance partner. “It is very simple, those who have filed a case will plead their side. But if the one who is hearing the case and expected to give a verdict on it is meeting those who have filed the case, then that raises suspicion. The dignity of the post (of Speaker) would have remained intact if it was not done,” he said.

However, Narvekar defended his meeting by saying he is also a legislator. “There are questions of my constituency for which I had to meet the CM. I met him to discuss the issue of delay in the construction of the Colaba-Nariman Point connector, concretisation of eight roads and six beautification projects in my Colaba constituency. Besides, we also discussed the issue of giving permanent jobs to state legislature employees currently working on a contract basis and 132 vacant posts in the state legislature,” he said.

Criticising Thackeray, the Speaker said, “As the former CM, he should know the responsibilities and obligations of the Speaker. But if he still making such accusations, then it is clear that he has a political agenda behind it. My meeting was scheduled for January 3. But that was postponed because I was unwell.”

Narvekar further said that even Shiv Sena UBT leaders have met him after the hearing on disqualification petitions began. “Today morning I met NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena UBT leader Anil Desai in the VIP lounge at the airport. Shiv Sena UBT legislators Sunil Prabhu and Ajay Chaudhary, against whom disqualification petitions have been filed, also met me,” he said.