New Delhi, 11 May: The Supreme Court was critical of the role of the then Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari in allowing a vote of confidence in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly based on the claim of the majority by Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena.
Although the court has referred the issue of power struggle to a bench of seven judges, it also said that Uddhav Thackeray could have been re-installed as Chief Minister, if he had faced a floor test instead of resigning.
The Supreme Court also remarked that Bharat Gogawale of the Shinde faction was accepted as Whip of the party by the Speaker Rahul Narvekar in contravention of the law. He should have verified the rules, as the appointment of a Whip is the decision of the political party and Thackeray had appointed a different legislator.
The Shinde-Fadnavis government in Maharashtra survived, as the issue of disqualification of 16 members including Eknath Shinde, was referred to a full bench of seven judges.
Thackeray faction had raised its voice against the decision of the then Governor Koshyari. The dispute within Shiv Sena could have been sorted out within the party, the apex court remarked.
