# Supreme Court Examines Shiv Sena Whip and Faction Dispute

2026-08-06T11:50:06+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The Supreme Court on 5 August examined whether legislators can disregard official party directives because they command a majority among elected members. The three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is hearing Uddhav Thackeray’s challenge to the Election Commission’s recognition of Eknath Shinde’s faction as the Shiv Sena. Deccan Herald reports that the court said political parties must function democratically. The Hindu reports that Shinde had the backing of 40 of the Sena’s 55 MLAs before the Thackeray government fell and a government was formed with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. The court is considering party control, dissent and the Tenth Schedule. It has issued no final written judgment.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/majority-legislators-cannot-overrule-will-of-political-party-supreme-court/article71309794.ece>
- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/shiv-sena-factional-feud-case-political-parties-must-function-democratically-supreme-court-4101967>

Tags: Election Commission, Maharashtra politics, party whip, Shiv Sena, Supreme Court
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