Maharashtra Speaker Gets Additional Time From Supreme Court To Decide On Disqualification Petitions Against Ajit Pawar's NCP

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar got an additional time from the Supreme Court on Monday (29 January) to give a verdict on the disqualification of MLAs from the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked the Speaker to deliver his verdict by 15 February, extending the initial deadline of 31 January, in response to Narwekar's plea seeking an extension.

The petition was filed by Sharad Pawar faction of NCP and sought directives to the Speaker for a timely resolution of disqualification petitions pending against a group of rebel legislators, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought additional time for Narwekar, citing his occupancy with the disqualification petitions of Shiv Sena MLAs. Narwekar had declared Shinde Sena as the real Shiv Sena in his verdict.

The July disqualification petitions stemmed from the Sharad Pawar-led camp and targeted 40 MLAs for alleged anti-party activities after Ajit Pawar's defection from the NCP to join the state's coalition government as Deputy CM.