‘Constitution is the only supreme authority’: Shiv Sena (UBT) slams Fadnavis

The Shiv Sena UBT on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his recent remarks in the Legislative Council asserting that no authority supersedes the Constitution reported news agency IANSIn an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana the party described Fadnavisrsquo stance as politically convenient and accused the ruling alliance of adopting contradictory positions depending on circumstancesRemarks in Council Spark Political ControversyThe controversy erupted after Fadnavis stated in the Legislative Council that directives issued by the Speaker or Chairperson cannot be considered absolute or final His remarks triggered a political debate with the opposition questioning the consistency of the governmentrsquos approach toward institutional authorityThe editorial argued that such statements undermine the sanctity of constitutional positions and raised concerns over selective interpretation of institutional powers reported IANSSatara Incident and Suspension RowThe party linked the issue to a recent political dispute in Satara involving members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shindeled Shiv Sena faction over the Zilla Parishad presidencyAccording to the editorial tensions escalated during the incident with allegations that the police favoured one side The situation reportedly led to a confrontation involving state minister Shambhuraj Desai reported IANSFollowing the episode Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe directed the suspension of Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi However the Chief Minister declined to enforce the directive maintaining that executive authority rests with the government and that such directions are not binding reported IANSOpposition Flags lsquoDouble StandardsrsquoThe Shiv Sena UBT alleged that the current stance contradicts the ruling coalitionrsquos earlier position on institutional decisionsThe editorial recalled the January 10 2024 ruling delivered by Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on disqualification petitions related to party defections The decision had upheld the legitimacy of the faction led by Eknath Shinde and rejected pleas seeking disqualification of several legislators reported IANSAt the time the ruling alliance had welcomed the verdict calling it legally sound and historic The editorial pointed out that no questions were raised then about whether the Speakerrsquos decision was final or subject to executive interpretationConstitution Above All Says EditorialReiterating its position the party emphasised that in a democratic system no individual or office holds absolute authority It argued that all decisionsmdashwhether by the legislature executive or judiciarymdashremain open to scrutiny and review under the framework of the Constitution reported IANSThe editorial concluded that the Constitution alone represents the ultimate guiding authority in governance and public life urging consistency in upholding democratic principlesWith inputs from IANS