"Attempt to pressurise SC...": Uddhav Thackeray on appointment of Rahul Narwekar as head of committee to review anti-defection law

Jan 29, 2024

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 29 : Following the appointment of Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar as the head of the committee to review the anti-defection law, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray called the move an attempt to 'pressurise the Supreme Court'.
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, on Sunday, announced that Narwekar would head the committee to review the anti-defection law. The announcement came after the conclusion of the All India Presiding Officers' meeting in Mumbai.
"Should we consider the appointment of Narwekar as the chairman of the country's review committee of anti-defection law as the next step towards the end of democracy in the country?" Thackeray asked.
"In Maharashtra, we have not only disrobed the rash decision given by Narvekar but we have also moved to the Supreme Court against it. Making this appointment while the matter is in the Supreme Court is an attempt to put pressure on the Supreme Court," he added.
The anti-defection law deals with situations of defection in Parliament or state legislatures by members of a political party, independent members, and nominated members.
Earlier, Rahul Narwekar delivered his decision on cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of rival group MLAs after a split in the party in June last year, and ruled out that the "Shinde faction was real Shiv Sena when rival factions emerged".
The Speaker referred to the Shiv Sena constitution while delivering his crucial decision and said, "The decision of Paksha Pramukh cannot be taken as a decision of the political party".