New Delhi: Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde has overturned the politics of Maharashtra which led to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray leaving his official residence ‘Varsha’ on Wednesday night making speculations rife that he can resign soon to put an end to the crisis in the state right now. Shinde who has claimed the support of 38 MLAs from Maharashtra has now 4 more legislators taking his side.
Multiple media reports suggest that NCP Chief Sharad Pawar advised Uddhav Thackeray to make Shinde the CM, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has denied such claims.
Here are the top developments in Maharashtra politics amid the turmoil:
- The CM moved out of ‘Varsha’, his official residence, for Matoshri, the private bungalow of the Thackeray family, amid high drama as the political crisis that has rocked his government after Shinde’s revolt two days ago, showed no signs of ebbing.
- Hundreds of Shiv Sainiks stationed themselves from Malabar Hill, where Varsha is located, to Matoshri in Bandra. Carrying placards and party flags, workers raised slogan of ‘Uddhav Thackeray Zindabad’ as some of them fought back tears.
- Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut asserted Thackeray will not resign following the rebellion by a section of party MLAs, and maintained the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will prove its majority in the Assembly if required.
- Shinde on Wednesday said the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra was an “unnatural alliance” and it was imperative for his party to walk out of the coalition with the NCP and the Congress for its own sake and that of party workers.
- Shinde’s reaction came hours after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reached out to the rebels, saying he would quit his post if even one Sena MLA comes and tells him on his face that he was incompetent.
- Shinde maintained that while the NCP and the Congress were growing stronger in the MVA alliance, the Shiv Sena, which heads the governing bloc, and its workers were getting systematically weakened.
- NCP president Sharad Pawar called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday evening. Pawar was accompanied by his daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule and party minister Jitendra Awhad. It is assumed that the leader discussed ways to douse the fire in Maharashtra politics triggered by their cabinet minister Shinde. However, what transpired in the meeting couldn’t be known.
- The meeting took place after Thackeray’s live webcast, in which he offered to quit as Maharashtra chief minister and extended an olive branch to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shindesaying he will be happy if a Shiv Sainik succeeds him.
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The rebellion by Shinde, who has claimed the support of 42 MLAs, has pushed the two-and-a-half-year-old Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to the brink. The Sena has 55 members in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
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In the wee hours of Wednesday, Shinde and other rebel MLAs were flown to Guwahati in Assam from Surat, where they were camping since early Tuesday.