Mumbai, June 23: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray seems to be on the brink of losing its power in the state after Sena leader and urban development minister Eknath Shinde started a rebel against his own party.
Agriculture Minister Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Rathode, and MLC Ravindra Phatak arrived at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati.
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#WATCH | Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA Dadaji Bhuse, MLA Sanjay Rathod and MLC Ravindra Phatak with Eknath Shinde at Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati. pic.twitter.com/nwGmY8Sr4E
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
Sources close to Shiv Sena on Thursday said that the party's newly-appointed Legislature Party leader Ajay Choudhari has written to the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, demanding action against those MLAs who did not attend the Legislature party meeting.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said, "Everyone knows how the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were taken to Gujarat & then Assam. We don't have to take the names of all those assisting them...Assam Government is helping them. I don't need to take any names further."
There is no question of proving majority as of now, MVA has majority and is still in power. It's just that some Shiv Sena MLAs have gone to another state after being unhappy but we are confident that Shiv Sena will succeed in bringing them back, said NCP leader Jayant Patil.
NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Thursday said we will stand will Uddhav Thakeray till the end. "We are keeping an eye on the current political situation, he added.
Check Tweet:
Mumbai | We will stand will Uddhav Thackeray ji till the end. We are keeping an eye on the current political situation: NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar pic.twitter.com/E2inFAY9Fn
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
Congress Party Leaders Meet at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai:
Maharashtra | A meeting of Congress leaders on the current political developments held at Sahyadri Guest House, Mumbai, in the presence of HK Patil, AICC Incharge- Maharastra, state party president Nana Patole and others pic.twitter.com/oNNfVdOobN
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
BJP is trying to destabilise the govt: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole
BJP is trying to destabilise the govt, BJP is trying to split Shiv Sena. We're working on how to sort this out... Maha Vikas Aghadi govt will continue & will complete 5 years. We're keeping an eye on the situation. Congress stands with MVA: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole pic.twitter.com/4vk7A5kQ1V
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
In a tweet aimed at Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs, Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Rawat on Thursday said that doors for discussions were still open and a discussion can lead the way.
Check Tweet:
"The doors are still open for talks...Discussions can lead the way," tweets Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/3sh31SvMCK
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
Talking about the political instability in Maharashtra, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said that Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and all the central leaders are keeping an eye on it. "He is capable to take a decision in the interest of the state," Sawant said. Besides Sawant, NCP leader Jayant Patil ina tweet said, "Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is a government established for the development and welfare of Maharashtra. We will stand firmly with Uddhavji Thackeray till the end."
Check tweets:
Panaji | Our Maharashtra leader Devendra Fadnavis and all our central leaders are keeping an eye on it. He (Devendra Fadanvis) is capable to take a decision in the interest of the state: Goa CM Pramod Sawant on the political situation in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/vGlelOMzJ3
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
"Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is a government established for the development and welfare of Maharashtra. We will stand firmly with Uddhavji Thackeray till the end," tweets NCP leader Jayant Patil
(file photo) pic.twitter.com/KZNABhWuwx
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
A letter written by rebel Shiv Sens MLAs states that they were stopped from going to Ayodhya during Aaditya Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya. "When Hindutva and Ram Mandir are crucial issues for the party, then why did the party stop us from visiting Ayodhya," the letter reads.
The letter shared by Eknath Shinde:
ही आहे आमदारांची भावना... pic.twitter.com/U6FxBzp1QG
— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) June 23, 2022
Furthermore, the letter also said that the people around the CM used to decide if the MLAs could meet him or not. It also alleged that CM Thackeray never used to be in the Secretariat, instead, he used to be in Matoshree. "The Congress & the NCP used to get opportunities to meet him & even funds were given to them related to work in their constituencies," it said.
Check tweets:
CM never used to be in the Secretariat, instead, he used to be in Matoshree (Thackeray residence). We used to call people around the CM but they never used to attend our calls. We were fed up with all these things & persuaded Eknath Shinde to take this step:Shiv Sena MLA's letter
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
When Hindutva and Ram Mandir are crucial issues for the party, then why did the party stop us from visiting Ayodhya. MLAs were called & were stopped from going to Ayodhya during Aaditya Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya: Shiv Sena MLA's letter
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
In Mumbai, a poster of Shiv Sen MLA Sada Sarvankar, who is currently camping in Guwahati with rebel party leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs was smeared with ink. Interestingly, the word 'traitor' was also written on the poster in his constituency in the city.
Check tweet:
#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | Mumbai: Poster of Shiv Sen MLA Sada Sarvankar, who is currently camping in Guwahati with rebel party leader Eknath Shinde, smeared with ink, word 'traitor' written on the poster in his constituency in the city pic.twitter.com/8MhpPT8yob
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
According to sources, a total of 42 Maharashtra MLAs are present with Eknath Shinde at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. This includes 34 MLAs from Shiv Sena and 8 Independent MLAs.
Check tweet:
A total of 42 Maharashtra MLAs are present with Eknath Shinde at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. This includes 34 MLAs from Shiv Sena and 8 Independent MLAs: Sources#MaharashtraCrisis
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that about 20 MLAs are in touch with the party. He further said that "...when they come to Mumbai, you will get to know...will soon be revealed, in what circumstances, pressure these MLAs left us." Raut also said that when the floor test will happen everyone will see who's positive and who is negative.
Check tweets:
I won't talk about any camp, I will talk about my party. Our party is strong even to this day...About 20 MLAs are in touch with us...when they come to Mumbai, you will get to know...will soon be revealed, in what circumstances, pressure these MLAs left us: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/UBH9jH4qKs
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
He who leaves the party under ED pressure is not a true Balasaheb Bhakt. We're true Balasaheb Bhakts...even we've ED pressure but will continue to stand with Uddhav Thackeray...When floor test happens everyone will see who's positive and who is negative...: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/Wa2WqbZI1g
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
It seems the Shiv Sena has got some support from the Trinamool Congress party. TMC leaders and workers protesting outside Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, where the rebel Sena MLAs are lodged were detained by the police. Speaking about the agitation, a worker said, "Around 20 Lakh people in Assam are suffering due to the flood. But CM is busy toppling Maharashtra Govt."
Check tweet:
Assam | TMC leaders & workers protesting outside Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati are being detained by Police
A worker says, "Around 20 Lakh people in Assam are suffering due to the flood. But CM is busy toppling Maharashtra Govt"
Rebel Maharashtra MLAs are staying at the hotel. pic.twitter.com/Si7xf4BdJR
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
In the midst of the political turmoil, CM Uddhah Thackeray has found support from netzines who took to Twitter to laud the Sena chief. While some praised the party's grassroots cadre, others said that Thackeray is a dignified person. Actor and TV host Simi Garewal said that its rare to find a leader of such dignity & integrity as Uddhav Thackeray.
Check tweets:
Such a dignified respons efrom such a dignified man .. if only politics had place for such men now @CMOMaharashtra #respect #UddhavThackeray https://t.co/b1BDDoXJjA
— Salilacharya (@Salilacharya) June 22, 2022
The response that #UddhavThackeray received on his way told a different story. A story about how the party's grassroots cadre is its real power.
— Ranjeet Jadhav (@ranjeetnature) June 22, 2022
Here's what Simi Garewal tweeted:
Because he has no greed for power, he doesn't play wily political games. It's rare to find a leader of such dignity & integrity as @uddhavthackeray.
— Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) June 22, 2022
Amid the political instability in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, three more Shiv Sena's rebel MLAs reached the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. On Wednesday night, 4 more MLAs were seen being welcomed by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs.
Check tweet:
Assam | Three more Shiv Sena's rebel MLAs reach Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati amid political instability in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/B8TE3IMQga
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022
On Wednesday evening, the 58-year-old Sena loyalist from Thane in a tweet said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi is an 'unnatural coalition' after Thackeray made an emotional appeal through Facebook live.
Later in the night, CM Uddhav Thackeray along with his family left the CM's official residence 'Varsha', and reached 'Matsohree'. Thackeray's decision to leave Varsha came hours after he said that he was ready to step down as Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena chief even if one rebel MLA came to Mumbai and made such a demand.
Meanwhile, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that Thackeray would not resign from his post. "If given a chance, the government will prove its majority in the assembly," he said. On reaching Matoshree, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment Aaditya Thackeray was seen waving at supporters. The Yuva Sena leader, who is an MLA from Worli also showed victory signs on reaching Matoshree.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 23, 2022 08:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).