BJP has welcomed the SC verdict which said the suspension of 12 of its MLAs beyond the session was irrational. The party said that the verdict was a ‘slap’ on the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. MVA ministers and leaders questioned the verdict.

Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis alleged the move to suspend MLAs was a conspiracy. “They should apologise to the people of the 12 constituencies. This is a slap on the MVA government for their conspiracy to artificially create a majority for them.” The 12 MLAs were suspended on July 5, for allegedly misbehaving with acting presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav who was presiding over the House session.

The Shiv Sena questioned the judgement. Sena MP Sanjay Raut alleged that judicial decisions were ‘going in favour of BJP’. “Why don’t we (MVA) get such relief, but only BJP gets it? This needs to be researched and explored. MVA did not get similar relief after Maharashtra governor BS Koshyari refused to decide on approving 12 named for the upper House of the Maharashtra legislature,” Raut said. Legislative affairs minister Anil Parab echoed Raut, wondering why the state had not got any relief when it came to the confirmation of 12 MLCs.

The Bombay high court in August, while responding to a PIL on the governor not confirming the 12 MLCs, had noted that the governor should let the chief minister know about his reservations on the list of nominees within a reasonable time. The HC, however, refused to issue directions to the governor.

Bhaskar Jadhav, the Shiv Sena MLA who was the presiding officer when the ‘misbehaviour’ happened, even hinted that the MVA could have a confrontation on the issue. “We respect the Supreme Court judgement, but the issue is not over as the Assembly speaker has powers as to who enters in the assembly premises,” said Jadhav while speaking to reporters. State Congress chief Nana Patole said that the judiciary should not intervene on issues concerning powers of the assembly. However, in the just-concluded winter session, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had spoken on the issue of the suspended 12 MLAs and hinted the one year suspension was too harsh.