'Traitors will be finished...': Sanjay Raut's warning before SC rules on rebel MLAs
Maharashtra disqualification case Supreme Court: If the court rules for Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde's government will fall.
Ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the war between ex-Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and his successor Eknath Shinde - over the legitimacy of the latter's government - Thackeray strongman Sanjay Raut warned his one-time party colleagues, including Shinde, they'd be 'finished' if the top court ruled in the ex-CM's favour.
"If the 16 MLAs, including CM Shinde, are disqualified today, then this group of traitors will be finished..." Raut said Thursday morning.
On Wednesday he said the court's decision would 'decide whether there is democracy in the country... (if) judiciary is independent'.
"Supreme Court judgment will decide whether there is democracy... whether legislatures are functioning as per Constitution... judiciary is functioning independently. We are hopeful we will get justice. I am confident the Supreme Court is independent," the Sena leader said.
Maharashtra rebel MLAs case recap
A five-judge Constitution bench - led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud - will deliver the verdict after ruling on a similarly critical case - the control of administrative services in Delhi.
The court must decide if Shinde's rebellion was illegal.
Last year over three dozen Shiv Sena lawmakers quit their party and government, camped out at a luxury hotel in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Assam and then joined the BJP.
The crisis forced the then-ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance - which includes the Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party - into a floor test won by the rebel faction.
Thackeray's faction then sought the disqualification of 16 of the rebel MLAs.
READ | Uddhav vs Shinde Supreme Court verdict: What's at stake? 10 points
What do both sides say?
Apart from Raut, Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya, a former minister, has also spoken about the key judgement, as has the NCP's Mahesh Tapase.
The Congress' Ashok Chavan called on the top court to be impartial in weighing the many arguments.
Speaking for the Sena faction now ruled by Shinde, MLA Sanjay Shirsat said his party is unconcerned as they 'factored in all aspects before revolting...' and that, "... Election Commission gave us party name and symbol, we won first stage."
Meanwhile, the NCP's Ajit Pawar - speculation of whose political future has included rumours of a jump to the BJP (as in 2019) - seemed once again to bat for his rivals, insisting he sees no viable threat to the Shinde government.
READ | Ajit Pawar says 'no threat to Shinde-Fadnavis govt' ahead of SC verdict
"Many call this government unconstitutional. But as long as they have the support of 145 MLAs, there is no danger," Sharad Pawar's nephew said.
With input from ANI