In a dramatic turn of events within the Shiv Sena party, the Uddhav Thackeray-led UBT faction has filed an application in the Supreme Court, raising objections to a meeting between Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This development comes just days before the eagerly awaited verdict in the Shiv Sena MLA disqualification case, scheduled for January 10 at 4 pm.

The crux of the objection lies in Speaker Narwekar's alleged impropriety in meeting Chief Minister Shinde at his residence on January 7, a mere three days before the crucial decision on the disqualification petition. Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed his concerns in the application, stating, "It is highly improper for the Speaker to meet Eknath Shinde three days before deciding on the disqualification petition. The Speaker is required to act in an impartial manner. However, the present act of the Speaker raises questions about his fairness and impartiality in the decision-making process."

Thackeray went on to assert that the Speaker's actions violate the fundamental legal maxim that justice should not only be done but also be seen to be done. The application aims to bring the meeting to the notice of the court, urging it to be officially recorded and addressed with an appropriate order.

The disqualification petitions in question were filed against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs who had rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022, leading to a split in the Shiv Sena and the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, which also included the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

The Supreme Court had initially set a deadline of December 31, 2023, for Speaker Narwekar to deliver the verdict. However, on December 15, the court granted a 10-day extension, moving the decision date to January 10. The impending verdict will have far-reaching implications for the future of the Shiv Sena and its political landscape.

It is noteworthy that both factions, led by Shinde and Thackeray, had filed cross-petitions seeking action against each other under anti-defection laws. The fallout from the rebellion in June 2022 saw Eknath Shinde assume the role of Chief Minister with the support of the BJP. Subsequently, the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party joined Shinde's government in July last year.

In terms of party nomenclature, the Election Commission awarded the 'Shiv Sena' name and 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Shinde-led faction. In contrast, the faction headed by Uddhav Thackeray was designated as Shiv Sena (UBT), with its symbol being a flaming torch.