The Supreme Court has taken a significant step in the ongoing dispute within the Shiv Sena party by agreeing to list the plea filed by the Shiv Sena-UBT faction. This faction is challenging the ruling of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who declared Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his camp as the legitimate representatives of the party.

The decision came during proceedings presided over by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, where senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, urged for an expedited listing of the matter. While the CJI assured Sibal that the case would be listed next week, it marks a crucial development in a legal battle that has ramifications not only within the party but also in the political landscape of Maharashtra.

The dispute stems from a ruling made by Speaker Narwekar on January 10, wherein he recognized CM Shinde's group as the genuine Shiv Sena, citing their majority in both the legislative assembly and the party's National Executive. This decision was contested by the Shiv Sena-UBT faction, led by Sunil Prabhu, who petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling.

Central to the plea is the contention that the ruling faction's recognition as the "real" Shiv Sena is unjust, particularly in light of the dismissal of disqualification petitions filed against CM Shinde and other MLAs from his camp. The Shiv Sena-UBT faction argues that the Speaker's decision was not in line with democratic principles and seeks redressal through judicial intervention.

The Supreme Court had previously issued a notice in this matter, calling for a response from CM Shinde and his camp. However, the matter was not listed for hearing on the scheduled date, prompting further urgency in resolving the dispute.

Case: Sunil Prabhu vs. The Speaker, Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly.