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As Sena power struggle spills onto streets, Shinde camp takes battle to SC | Top points

June 26, 2022
Bharat Times

As the Maharashtra political crisis deepened on Sunday, several Shiv Sena workers took to the streets against the party rebels across Maharashtra and Delhi. Amid the battle for control of Shiv Sena between Uddhav Thackeray and rebel leader Eknath Shinde, claims and counter-claims kept surfacing throughout the day. In an unexpected turn of events, the Shinde camp moved Supreme Court too.

Here’s a list of developments in the Maharashtra political crisis that took place on Sunday.

– Sena workers hold protests across Maharashtra and Delhi against rebel party workers

Shiv Sena workers supporting CM Uddhav Thackeray held a ‘Joote Maro’ andolan against the rebel Sena MLAs in Pune. Earlier, the supporters of Shinde camp had painted over posters put up in support of Uddhav Thackeray in Thane. Sena supporters also protested at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Some workers also held a bike rally against the rebel MLAs outside the Saamana office in Mumbai. Cases of vandalism were reported from various parts of Maharashtra.

Also read: Maharashtra crisis: Sena stages ‘joote maro’ protest in Pune as rebel supporters blacken Uddhav posters

– Uddhav’s wife Rashmi contacts wives of rebels to convince them to return

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray on Sunday morning contacted the wives of other rebel MLAs to convince them to speak to their husbands who were putting up at Guwahati.

– 15 rebel Sena MLAs get Y+ security from Centre

The Centre accorded ‘Y plus’ security to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs amid reports of Shiv Sena workers vandalizing offices and properties of Sena MLAs in the Shinde camp. However, rebel leader Eknath Shinde was not included in the list. ‘Y’ category security consists of eight personnel which may include one or two commandos and police personnel. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari wrote to the Union home secretary and the DGP of Maharashtra to ensure security for the 47 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and their families.

-Sanjay Raut warns Sena rebels camping in Guwahati

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, in a warning to rebel Sena MLAs, said their souls are dead and only their bodies will return to Mumbai. “The 40 people [rebel MLAs] who are there are not alive. Only their bodies will come back here, their souls will be dead. When they step out [of Guwahati]they won’t be alive at heart. They know what can happen in the fire that has been lit now,” Raut said.

-Will support CM Thackeray till last minute: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

While addressing media persons in Delhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said his party will support Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray till the last minute. Pawar said no talks were going on in Delhi regarding Maharashtra. Pawar said a group from Shiv Sena had gone separate and their statement proved that they just wanted power. “The MLAs, who are saying they have a problem with the NCP, this is just an excuse. Where were they for the last 2.5 years?” Pawar asked.

-Uday Samant joins Shinde Camp

Maharashtra Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Uday Samant, flew to Guwahati to join the Eknath Shinde faction. He is the eighth minister to do so.

-Shinde camp moves Supreme Court

The Shinde camp has approached the Supreme Court over the deputy speaker’s disqualification notice. Two petitions have been filed challenging the disqualification notice issued by the deputy speaker and the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party. The SC vacation bench and the registrar are likely to hear the Shinde camp’s pleas at 10.30 am on Monday.

-Uddhav offered CM post to Shinde on May 30, claims Aaditya Thackeray

Maharashtra tourism minister and the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, has claimed that Uddhav had offered the CM’s post to Eknath Shinde on May 30. He said they were using this time as Uddhav was unwell. He asked, “If the BJP is not involved, then why are their people meeting the MLAs there?”