Mumbai, June 29: Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday night at Raj Bhavan. In his meeting, Fadnavis urged the Guv to ask CM Uddhav Thackeray to prove confidence in his government. The former CM also sought a floor test. Fadnavis' meeting came hours after Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said that he will be coming to Mumbai soon, and also claimed that he has the support of 50 MLAs with him.
As the Maharashtra political crisis enters the eighth day here are all the latest developments:
Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday resigned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra ahead of the floor test in Maharashtra. Addressing the state virtually, Thackeray said he is stepping down as the CM of Maharashtra. He will also resign as a member of the legislative council.
Check Tweet:
I am quitting as Maharashtra Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray says in live broadcast
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 29, 2022
Supreme Court, after hearing arguments made by all the parties, gave its decision on Shiv Sena's plea against the floor test. SC, in its judgment, allowed to conduct the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow.
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Supreme Court gives go ahead to the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow; says we are not staying tomorrow's floor test. pic.twitter.com/neYAIftfWe
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Supreme Court reserves the order on the plea filed by Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's direction to CM Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House on June 30. Meanwhile, Supreme Court will pronounce orders on Shiv Sena's plea challenging the floor test at 9 pm today.
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Supreme Court to pronounce its order at 9 pm
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
BJP MLAs Arrive at Taj President hotel Ahead of Floor Test Tomorrow:
#WATCH | Maharashtra BJP MLAs begin arriving at Taj President hotel in Mumbai for a legislative meeting of the party ahead of Floor Test tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/EC4Xvywipl
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Starts Arguments for Governor of Maharashtra:
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta starts arguments for the Governor of Maharashtra.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta - First of all, the argument that this court has interdicted the Speaker is wrong. It is not this order but the law which has interdicted him.
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Eknath Shinde Has Support of 55 MLAs:
Supreme Court, during the hearing, asked Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul - how many MLAs are in the dissident group?
Advocate Kaul said the rebel group has the support of 55 MLAs. Out of 55, 39 MLAs are from Shiv Sena, which is why the great nervousness to facing the Floor Test. "Rebel MLAs are not leaving Shiv Sena. We're the Shiv Sena, we have an overwhelming majority," he added.
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Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Eknath Shinde, says - There are 9 independent MLAs who have also given us support. It is the hopeless minority of 14 who are opposing us.
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Minister Aditya Thackeray Leave from Mantralaya:
#WATCH | Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray leaves from Mantralaya in Mumbai, after the state cabinet meeting concludes. pic.twitter.com/la9y25r4HE
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
My Own People Betrayed Me, Says CM Uddhav Thackeray in Cabinet Meet:
CM Thackeray said that all 3 parties came together & did good work in 2.5 yrs. He expressed his gratitude to all parties. Tomorrow, vote of confidence will take place & it will be decided if it's the end or not:NCP leader & Maharashtra min Jayant Patil after state cabinet meeting pic.twitter.com/qlITiLbDwf
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
The MVA-led Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved the renaming of Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv. Navi Mumbai Airport's name will be changed to DB Patil International Airport.
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Maharashtra state cabinet approves the renaming of Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv. Navi Mumbai Airport's name will be changed to DB Patil International Airport.
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
At Maharashtra Cabinet Meeting, Congress demanded to rename Pune city as Jijau Nagar and Navi Mumbai Airport to be named after DB Patil.
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In the Maharashtra state cabinet meeting, Congress ministers demanded that Pune City be renamed Jijau Nagar: Maharashtra Congress
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
We are not rebels. We are Shiv Sena, Says Eknath Shinde:
We are not rebels. We are Shiv Sena. We are carrying forward the agenda and ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena. We will work for the Hindutva ideology and development of the state: Eknath Shinde, at Guwahati airport#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/RGMdJ75dQV
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
"As far as disqualification issue is concerned, that matter is sub judice before us. We will determine it. How does the floor test depend on qualification or disqualification? Are these powers interchangeable or inter related?," Justice Kant asked the MVA lawyer.
"On one hand, court has stayed disqualification proceedings, on the other hand, MLAs are going to vote tomorrow, it's a direct contradiction," MVA lawyer told SC.
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Supreme Court asks - Issue of disqualification is pending before us, but what is its relation to Floor Test, please clarify.
Lawyer says – On one hand, court has stayed disqualification proceedings, on the other hand, MLAs are going to vote tomorrow, it's a direct contradiction.
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Check Tweet:
SC asks adv Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sunil Prabhu - Are you disputing that 34 members of your party haven't signed letter?
Singhvi replies - There's no verification. Gov kept letter for a week & acted only when LoP met him.Every action of Gov is subject to judicial review
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and state minister Aaditya Thackeray along with other ministers arrive at Mantrayala in Mumbai for a cabinet meeting.
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Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and state minister Aaditya Thackeray along with other ministers arrive at Mantrayala in Mumbai for a cabinet meeting#MaharashtraPolitcalCrisis pic.twitter.com/l3L76zkoIG
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Devendra Fadnavis Speaks to MNS Chief Raj Thackeray
Amid the ongoing political instability in Maharashtra, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday spoke to MNS Chief Raj Thackeray and sought his help in the Floor Test scheduled for tomorrow. It must be noted that MNS has one MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly.
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#MaharastraPoliticalCrisis | BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis spoke with MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the phone, asking for help in Floor Test scheduled for tomorrow. Thackeray agreed, he said that the party will vote. MNS has one MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly.
(File photos) pic.twitter.com/z7YCnDInki
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
We are not worried about any floor test: Eknath Shinde
Ahead of the floor test in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said 50 MLAs are with him and they have 2/3 majority. He also said that they will reach Mumbai tomorrow. "We are not worried about any floor test. We will pass all things and no one can stop us. In democracy majority matters and we're having that," Shinde said.
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"We will reach Mumbai tomorrow. 50 MLAs are with us. We've 2/3 majority. We are not worried about any floor test. We will pass all things and no one can stop us. In democracy majority matters and we're having that" says Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde in Guwahati pic.twitter.com/cEmwwdICgZ
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Fadnavis to meet BJP leaders
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis has called a meeting of BJP leaders at his residence in Mumbai this afternoon.
'I'm with BJP since beginning'
Maharashtra Independent MLA Rajendra Raut on Wednesday said that he is with BJP since beginning. "Devendra Fadnavis took stand for me in the state Assembly," he said.
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Mumbai | I'm with BJP since beginning. Devendra Fadnavis took stand for me in the state Assembly...MLAs will get upset if work will not happen in their constituencies. Yes, there is no problem in that (of BJP coming to power in the state):Maharashtra Independent MLA Rajendra Raut pic.twitter.com/ZwmMVvNrdH
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
'We will win the floor test tomorrow'
Ahead of the trust vote against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil said that people are with us and we will win the floor test tomorrow and will form the government. "There is no need to worry," he said.
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People are with us and we will win the floor test tomorrow and will form the government. There is no need to worry: Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati#MaharashtraPolitcalCrisis pic.twitter.com/c59VsMkbKw
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Supreme Court to hear plea against floor test today
Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's direction to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to take a floor test and prove its majority in the House on Thursday (June 30). The court will hear the case at 5 pm today.
BJP, rebel MLAs prepare for the floor test
According to sources, rebel MLAs will be heading to Goa today; 70 rooms have been booked at Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Goa for them. Meanwhile, BJP has directed its MLAs to assemble at the Taj President hotel in Mumbai by today evening.
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BJP directs its MLAs to assemble at Taj President hotel in Mumbai today evening: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Rebel Maharashtra MLAs will be heading to Goa today; 70 rooms booked at Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Goa. They will then fly to Mumbai tomorrow and go directly to the Maharashtra Assembly: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
We will go to the Supreme Court: Sanjay Raut
Reacting to Governor's decision to call for a floor test, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that this is an unlawful activity as the matter of disqualification of our 16 MLAs is pending in Supreme Court.
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We will go to the Supreme Court (against the Maharashtra Governor’s decision to call for a floor test). This is an unlawful activity as the matter of disqualification of our 16 MLAs is pending in SC. The Governor was waiting for this moment only: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut pic.twitter.com/nnqBLBPFqD
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Will go to Mumbai tomorrorw: Eknath Shinde
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde along with four other rebel MLAs offered prayers at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. "I'm here to pray for the peace & happiness of Maharashtra. Will go to Mumbai tomorrow for the floor test & follow all the process," he said.
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I'm here to pray for the peace & happiness of Maharashtra. Will go to Mumbai tomorrow for the floor test & follow all the process: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, in Guwahati, Assam pic.twitter.com/ErHwhz6Ny2
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
Trust vote against CM Uddhav Thackeray on June 30
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has written a letter to the state Assembly secretary asking him to convene a special session of the State Assembly on June 30, with the only agenda of a trust vote against CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Check tweet:
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has written to state Assembly secretary to convene a special session of the State Assembly on June 30, with the only agenda of a trust vote against CM Uddhav Thackeray pic.twitter.com/9M5htIIE9R
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2022
According to reports, eight Independents have written to Maharashtra Governor seeking an immediate floor test. More importantly, Shinde is also likely to meet Guv Koshyari and a floor test might take place this week only.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 29, 2022 10:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).