Uddhav Vs Shinde: SC Verdict On Maharashtra Crisis Today

The Supreme Court is set to pronounce its verdict on the year-long battle between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde on Thursday.

The bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha will decide whether Eknath Shinde remains the chief minister or whether his rebellion and the consequent floor test were illegal.

Photo Credit: SC verdict on Maharashtra crisis today

Both Thackeray and Shinde factions of the Shiv Sena have expressed confidence of a win.

The Maharashtra government plunged into a political crisis after Eknath Shinde launched a rebellion against Uddhav with 40 MLAs in June 2022.

Shinde and his supporters moved to Assam and then staked claim to form the government with BJP's help.

Uddhav Thackeray resigned leading to collapse of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising of Shiv Sena, Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party, in Maharashtra.

Later, the Uddhav faction moved the top court seeking disqualification of the MLAs who went to the Shinde camp.

After much deliberation, the Election Commission reconginsed Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena and gave the original bow and arrow symbol of Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena to the Shinde faction. Uddhav's faction was alloted the symbol of a flaming torch and new name Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.

MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that the top court's verdict will decide whether democracy is alive in the country.

However, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was hopeful that Eknath Shinde will continue as the CM as the verdict will be in favour of Shinde.

If the Supreme Court rules in favour of Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde will have to resign.

Shinde camp is reresented by Harish Salve, NK Kaul and Mahesh Jethmalani while Uddhav is represented by Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. BS Koshyari is Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented BS Koshyari.

In the previous hearing, the apex court questioned Koshyari's role and observed that a governor should not enter into any area which precipitates the fall of a government.