Can't scare us: Eknath Shinde after Shiv Sena demands disqualification of rebel MLAs
Guwahati (Assam), June 24: Eknath Shinde slammed Shiv Sena after the party wrote to the Maharashtra Assembly deputy speaker on Thursday and sought the disqualification of 12 rebel MLAs.
"You cannot scare us by giving the names of 12 MLAs for disqualification because we are followers of the Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. We know the law, so we do not pay heed to threats," Shinde said on Twitter.
"We know your ways and the law too! According to Schedule 10 of the Constitution, the whip is used for assembly work, not for meetings," he added.
Uddhav Thackeray's faction of the Shiv Sena has asked the state assembly's deputy speaker to cancel the membership of 12 rebel MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, for "not attending" a legislative party meeting on Wednesday.
According to Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, a notice had been issued before the meeting which said that if an MLA does not attend the meeting, legal action will be taken.
"We've filed a petition before the Deputy Speaker (of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly) and demanded that the membership of 12 (MLAs) should be cancelled as they didn't attend yesterday's meeting," Sawant added.
He further said, "Before the meeting notice was issued in which it was said that if you didn't attend the meeting then legal action will be taken as per the constitution. Some didn't come and some gave unnecessary reasons."
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Shiv Sena has sought disqualification of Eknath Shinde along with Prakash Surve, Tanaji Sawant, Mahesh Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeep Bhumare, Bharat Gogawale, Sanjay Shirsat, Yamini Yadhav, Anil Babar, Balaji Devdas, and Lata Chaudhari.
Ajay Choudhari, who was named "legislative party leader" after Shinde was "removed" from his position by the Shiv Sena, filed the petition.
Sunil Prabhu, the chief whip for the Shiv Sena, had written to party MLAs requesting their attendance at the meeting.
According to the letter, if someone remains absent, it will be considered that the said MLA has decided to quit the party voluntarily.
The letter also warned MLAs that action would be taken to cancel their membership in line with constitutional provisions if they failed to provide a valid excuse or gave an indication for their absence from the meeting.
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-PTC News
