By Dilip Chaware
All eyes are on the supreme court as it is scheduled to take up various petitions concerning the recent political upheaval in Maharashtra for preliminary hearing tomorrow. Anticipating that a protracted legal and constitutional battle will be fought, both sides are preparing to bolster their case. Moves and counter-moves are taking place rapidly for a final showdown.
Meanwhile, about a dozen Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena are expected to join the Eknath Shinde faction, further strengthening its claim to be the ‘true’ Shiv Sena. Their formal decision will be announced any moment though enough indications are available that they will part ways with Uddhav Thackeray soon. As of now, the Thackeray side has just half a dozen LS members with it, as was seen in the national capital on Sunday at a press conference addressed by Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut.
Amidst these developments influential Sena leaders like former minister Ramdas Kadam and three-time MP Shivajirao Adhalrao have decided to go with Shinde. Their gesture is reciprocated by Shinde by gifting them with important party positions. Kadam was from the original band of Sainiks organised by Balasaheb Thackeray. He has lamented the treatment Uddhav has given him. Adhalrao, a staunch political opponent of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is a prominent Maratha leader from Pune district. Some more Sena leaders are likely to follow suit.
Dilip Chaware
A veteran journalist, formerly Special Correspondent, The Times of India, Mumbai.
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