Sena Tussle moves from hotel to court, Rebels plea to Supreme Court today

Acting on Eknath Shinde’s petition challenging notices of disqualification issued to him and 15 other rebel MPs last week, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Vice President Narhari Zirwal, Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu, Legislative Party Leader Anil Chaudhary and Center. The High Court will now hear the case on July 11.

The Supreme Court also extended the deadline for rebel MPs to file their responses to disqualification notices until July 11. Previously, they were asked to submit their responses by 5:30 p.m. today.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the rebels’ lawyer why they had not first approached the Bombay High Court. To this, the lawyer NK Kaul replied that the houses and properties of the rebels are threatened and that the situation is not conducive to the pursuit of their rights in Bombay.

In a separate plea filed in the Supreme Court today, Eknath Shinde claimed a ‘serious threat’ to the lives of MPs from his faction. The petition also mentioned Sanjay Raut’s “corpse” comments, which the party MP later clarified by saying he was talking about the “dead conscience” of lawmakers.

The Maharashtra government has informed the Supreme Court that immediate steps will be taken to provide adequate security to MPs who have received notices of disqualification.

The petition filed by Eknath Shinde also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance (MVA) in Maharashtra lost majority at home as 38 out of 55 Shiv Sena lawmakers withdrew their support for the coalition.

Sanjay Raut was summoned today by the Directorate of Enforcement in a money laundering case. Mr Raut responded by accusing “it’s a plot to arrest me”. Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena MP said his party was ready for a “street fight and a legal battle”.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stripped nine rebel ministers of their portfolios. “The portfolios of rebel ministers have been transferred to other ministers to facilitate administration,” an official statement said.

Reports suggest that Eknath Shinde, leading the rebellion against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, met twice with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray and discussed the ‘recent political situation’ in the state. Supporters of Mr Shinde staged a show of force in Thane today.

A citizens’ group today filed a Public Interest Litigation or PIL in the Bombay High Court against Eknath Shinde and other rebel Shiv Sena MPs for causing ‘political unrest’. He urged the High Court to order the rebel leaders to return to the state and resume their duties.