Administering oath to rebel MLAs amounts to murder of democracy and Constitution, claims Shiv Sena

By finally taking the ministerial oath, the rebels have taken a dip in the Ganga river. But will they be able to “wash the sin of betrayal?" an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' asked.

A day after the Maharashtra Cabinet expansion, the Shiv Sena claimed administering ministerial oath to rebels MLAs, whose disqualification pleas are pending before the Supreme Court, amounted to murder of democracy and the Constitution.

By finally taking the ministerial oath, the rebels have taken a dip in the Ganga river. But will they be able to “wash the sin of betrayal?" an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' asked on August 10.

The expression on Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's face while administering the oath to Ministers was as if he was doing a “divine work”, it quipped. The Marathi daily also slammed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for “bowing” before Delhi seven times by going to the national capital before the Cabinet expansion. The CM had made seven visits to New Delhi in the last one month and with every visit there was talk of the Ministry expansion.

Mr. Shinde on August 9 expanded his two-member Ministry 41 days after taking oath as the CM by inducting 18 Ministers, nine each from his rebel Shiv Sena group and the BJP.

“When the plea of disqualification is pending before the Supreme Court, administering oath to the rebel MLAs amounts to murder of democracy and the Constitution,” the editorial said. The sword of disqualification hangs over Shinde and 39 rebels, it said.

“…but will those who betrayed [Uddhav Thackeray] and switched sides ever be satisfied? The blot of treachery will never be washed off,” the Marathi publication said.