A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana will on Wednesday hear a clutch of petitions on the dispute between Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray seeking disqualification of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. The Thackeray camp claims the Eknath Shinde-led government is "illegal" until the top court decides on disqualifications, and the rebels claim they are the real Sena with an overwhelming majority of party MLAs.
The Shiv Sena had on Tuesday requested the Maharashtra Governor not to administer the oath to any minister in the Eknath Shinde government, saying the legality of the decision to appoint Eknath Shinde as the Chief Minister is in question.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut today also demanded the imposition of President's rule in Maharashtra till the constitution bench of the Supreme Court gives its verdict.
After his rebellion led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Eknath Shinde took oath as the Chief Minister on June 30 along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
In a relief to Shiv Sena MLAs of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, the Supreme Court had asked newly-elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar not to proceed with the plea seeking their disqualification which was sought by the Shinde camp on the ground of defying party whip during the trust vote and the election of the speaker.
Maharashtra Legislature Secretary Rajendra Bhagwat had issued show cause notices to 53 Shiv Sena MLAs. Forty of the notices have been sent to the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the other 13 belong to the Uddhav Thackeray group.
Both the groups have sought the disqualification of legislators from the rival faction.
On June 27, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Deputy Speaker seeking his reply on the plea filed by the Eknath Shinde camp against his disqualification notices.
Members of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray -- including Shiv Sena Chief Whi Sunil Prabhu and Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal -- filed their responses earlier this week. The court will now hear a clutch of petitions from both sides.
"The MLAs have engaged in anti-party activities and deserve to be disqualified as Members of the Maharashtra Assembly," Mr Prabhu wrote last Sunday in response to Eknath Shinde's appeal.
The rebels have committed the "constitutional sin of defection". Eknath Shinde -- who is now the Chief Minister -- was "hand-in-glove with the BJP all along," read Mr Prabhu's response to the court.
Rebels have challenged disqualification notices sent to them, claiming they had a two-thirds majority therefore they are the real Shiv Sena and have the power to ally with the BJP.
Team Thackeray contended their stance is illegal and under the anti-defection law, they can be disqualified as they have not merged with the BJP.
Sources say the formation of the new council of ministers might take place days after the Presidential polls, scheduled on July 18. The Maharashtra cabinet currently has only two members -- Mr Shinde and Mr Fadnavis.
Sena vs Sena: Top Court To Hear Team Thackeray's Petition Against E Shinde, MLAs On Aug 7 Eknath Shinde Calls Uddhav Thackeray Camp "Nakli" Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde Explains Why He Rebelled Against Uddhav Thackeray "Dangerous Narrative...": Minister Slams Rahul Gandhi's Comment On Sikhs Large Asteroid Hurtles Towards Earth, ISRO Warns Of "Worst Case Scenario" What Coach Mahavir Phogat Said After Vinesh Phogat Joined Congress South Korea Summit Announces 'Blueprint' For Using AI In The Military Video Shows Students Drinking Beer At Chhattisgarh School; Probe Ordered Video: Bridge Collapses In Typhoon-Hit Vietnam, Vehicles Plunge Into River Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.