Maharashtra: Furore after Shinde camp MLA says SC won't disqualify them for 4 years

A claim by a senior leader from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's camp that the Supreme Court would not decide the case on the disqualification of the rebel MLAs for another fourto five years has stirred controversy.

The chief whip of the Shinde camp, Bharat Gogawale, has claimed that the SC will not give its order on the disqualification soon and by 2024 they would get elected again and be in power.

"A lot of people had expectations that the Supreme Court would hear the case, the Shinde group MLAs would be declared disqualified and then our government would collapse. However, I am telling you our issue is currently being heard at the constitution bench of the SC. Now this (verdict) will take four to five years. We will win the second elections (of 2024 assembly polls) and come to power again,"said Gogawale.


Gogawale further said he was predicting in advance that the Shiv Sena's election symbol of bow and arrow which is being contested by the Uddhav Thackeray group would also be given to their group.

Gogawale made the comments on Sunday and none other than NCP Chief Sharad Pawar slammed the remark and questioned on what basis Gogawale had made the remark.

"It seems he (Gogawale) may be having a very good communication with the judiciary, I have never heard of such proximity to the judiciary.. However this shows that there may be some connection,"said Pawar on Monday.

Pawar said in his opinion, the case can be disposed of in two to three hearings and should not take months or years.

The Shinde camp tried to damage control with Minister Deepak Kesarkar claiming that the statement by Gogawale was 'wrong'.