ECI asks for documents from Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackrey to prove majority

The conflict between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde over who will lead the Shiv Sena has advanced to a new stage in which both sides must present documentary evidence.

The Election Commission of India has asked for the documentary evidence from both parties by August 8, and the constitutional authority will then hear the case.

The disagreement inside the party, which erupted when Shinde and roughly 40 MLAs overthrew the previous government last month with the assistance of the BJP, will also be the subject of written comments from both sides. Devendra Fadnavis, the former chief minister of Maharashtra and prominent BJP figure, was named Shinde’s deputy in the new government.

Team Shinde stated in a letter to the Election Commission that it has the backing of 12 out of 18 Lok Sabha MPs and 40 out of the 55 MLAs.

“In order to place both the rival groups on an even keel and to protect their rights and interests, and going by the past precedence, the commission has directed that the documents submitted by the rival groups be exchanged and reply/written submissions be invited from the two groups,” the Election Commission said, adding it will take the next step for a “substantive hearing” only after getting the documentary evidence and written statements.

The Shinde camp had asked that Team Thackeray be disqualified from the Maharashtra legislature. On July 11, the Supreme Court, however, instructed Speaker Rahul Narwekar to dismiss the petition calling for Team Thackeray’s disqualification.

According to the Shinde camp, Sena opponents who disobeyed the party whip during the trust vote and Speaker election last month should be disqualified.

The Supreme Court’s larger bench will review the issues raised by both groups by July 27; the case will then be heard on August 1.