The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office and six rebel Shiv Sena MPs following a plea by Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant challenging the Speaker’s decision on their merger. Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe sought responses and scheduled further hearings in two weeks.
Notices were sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Joint Secretary, and six MPs including Bhausaheb Waghchaure, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Bandu Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Sanjay Dina Patil. However, the apex court declined to stay the Speaker’s decision recognizing the merger of the six MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.
Arvind Sawant’s petition argues that the Speaker’s decision has significantly impacted Shiv Sena’s parliamentary strength, reducing it from nine MPs to three. The challenge questions the constitutional validity of the merger under the Tenth Schedule, contending that no actual merger occurred.
