"Don't pay heed to comments....": Maharashtra Speaker ahead of hearing on disqualification of Shiv Sena MPs

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 8 : Ahead of the hearing on October 13, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that he does not get influenced by "motivated" allegations over delay in the disqualification petition of 16 Shiv Sena (Shinde camp) MPs, saying he does not pay heed" to individuals who don't understand the provisions of the Constitution.
"I don't pay much heed to comments made by individuals beyond the house, especially by those who don't understand the provisions of the constitution and the rules applicable for disqualification petitions. I do not get influenced by such motivated allegations," he told ANI in Pune on Sunday.
He was responding to the Uddhav Thackeray faction's allegation over delay in the disqualification petition of 16 Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLAs.
Earlier in September, a hearing was held in front of the Speaker of the Assembly, as per the instructions of the Supreme Court.
Both the Shiv Sena parties presented their arguments on the violations that took place by the 'rebel' Shiv Sena MLAs during the unseating of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government last year.
A petition was moved by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) to club all the petitions and conduct one hearing, to which Shiv Sena lawyers (Eknath Shinde camp) objected. The latter said that they want the petitions to be heard individually and evidence will be filed with respect to each petition.
Speaker Narwekar had decided that the next hearing would be held on October 13.
The Shiv Sena split in June last year after Eknath Shinde, who was then a Minister in the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet led a coup within the ranks of the party and formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), securing the Chief Minister's post for himself.
The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena has sought disqualification proceedings against those MLAs who joined hands with the BJP following Eknath Shinde's lead.