Maharashtra Political Crisis: We Are Ready to Lay Down Our Lives to Protect Balasaheb's Ideology, Says Eknath Shinde; Supreme Court To Hear Rebel MLA’s Plea Against Disqualification Notices Tomorrow

Mumbai, June 26: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde on Saturday said that he chose to rebel in order to free the party and its workers from the clutches of the MVA government. "This battle is for the betterment of the party and its workers," Shinde said in his tweet. On the other hand, Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray said that they will not forget the betrayal done by rebel MLAs.

As the Maharashtra political crisis enters the sixth day, here are all the latest developments:

The Maharashtra political crisis has reached the Supreme Court with the rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde filing a writ petition challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to rebel MLAs for proceedings under the tenth schedule of the Constitution over alleged defection. A vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear the matter tomorrow.

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To fight for Balasaheb’s hindutva ideology, we are ready to lay down our lives, tweets Eknath Shinde.

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Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Sunday called the rebel lawmakers camping in BJP-ruled Assam “living corpses” and said souls were dead. Stating that the bodies of the 40 MLAs, led by dissident party leader Eknath Shinde, will be sent directly to the Assembly for post-mortem when they come back.

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Uday Samant reaches Guwahati and joins Eknath Shinde camp.

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They have voluntarily given up membership: Adv Devdutta Kamat

Adv Devdutta Kamat, Shiv Sena's Senior Counsel on Sunday said that the deputy speaker has the power of the speaker in the latter's absence & can adjudicate on such matters. Kamat also said that the concept of 2-3rd (to surpass anti-defection law) applies only if there is a merger. "Till today there's no merger, they have voluntarily given up membership," he said.

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Political turbulence is going on in Maharashtra

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said that they have initiated legal action against rebel MLAs and notice has been served to 16 MLAs till now.

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'Traitors will not be taken back into the party'

Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said that Shiv Sena's doors are open for those who want to leave and those who want to return to the party. "Those rebel MLAs who are traitors will not be taken back into the party," he said.

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Maha minister Uday Samant joins rebel MLAs

In what can be seen as another setback for the Shiv Sena and MVA government in Maharashtra, Uday Samant, Maharashtra Minister of Higher & Technical Education joined the Eknath Shinde faction at Guwahati. He is the 8th minister to join the Shinde camp.

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CRPF personnel deployed outside rebel Sena MLA's house in Mumbai

Security has been heightened outside the residence of rebel Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kundalkar. Besides Mumbai police personnel, CRPF personnel have also been deployed.

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Sena workers take to the streets against rebel MLAs

On Sunday, Shiv Sena workers held a protest against rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde as well as other rebel MLAs in Maharashtra's Nagpur.

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Y+ category security for rebel MLAs

According to sources, the Central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.

According to sources, Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakas Surve, Sadanand Saranavnkar, Yogesh Dada Kadam,Pratap Sarnaik, Yamini Jadhav, Pradeep Jaiswal, Sanjay Rathod, Dadaji Bhuse, Dilip Lande, Balaji Kalyanar, Sandipan Bhumare have been provided CRPF's security cover.

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Shinde camp to challenge Maharashtra Deputy Speaker's decision

The Eknath Shinde camp will approach the court after seeking legal opinion on Maharashtra Deputy Speaker's decision to remove Eknath Shinde as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. Shinde faction said that Dy Speaker should've given at least 7 days to rebel MLAs to reply to the notice, say sources.

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Shinde supporters paint Uddhav Thackeray's poster

Meanwhile, supporters of the Eknath Shinde camp in Thane painted over the posters erected in support of CM Uddhav Thackeray.

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Sena workers hold bike rally in Mumbai

The Shiv Sena workers on Sunday held a bike rally to protest against the rebel MLAs outside the Saamana office in Mumbai.

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Sharad Pawar to fly to Delhi today

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar will leave for Delhi from Mumbai today. Pawar will join Opposition Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha in the filing of his nomination on June 27.

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Rashmi Thackeray calls wives of rebel MLAs: Sources

According to sources, CM Uddhav Thackeray's wife Rashmi has been calling the wives of rebel Sena MLAs and trying to convince them to speak to their husbands. Sources also said that Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has called a meeting of all rebel MLAs at 12 pm in Guwahati hotel, to discuss further strategy.

'For how long will you hide in Guwahati...'

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday morning took a dig at the rebel MLAs faction led by Eknath Shinde, who are currently staying at the Radisson Blue hotel in Guwahati.

Here's what Sanjay Raut tweeted:

The Eknath Shinde-led faction suffered a setback when the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly issued a disqualification notice to 16 rebel Sena MLAs. It is to be seen what step the rebel MLAs take going forward.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2022 09:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).