Maharashtra Political Crisis: Shiv Sena National Executive Committee Meet at 1pm on Saturday

Mumbai, June 24: Shiv Sena leader and MLA Eknath Shinde, who is camped at Guwahati with the rebel MLAs on Thursday night lashed out at the party after it sought disqualification of 12 rebel MLAs. In a tweet, Shinde said, "You can't scare us by applying for action against 12 MLAs, because we are the real Shiv Sena and Shiv Sainik of the venerable Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray."

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

Shiv Sena workers outside Matoshree: 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut arrives at Matoshree: 

Amidst the ongoing political crisis, Shiv Sena has called a meeting of its national executive committee at Sena Bhavan in Dadar tomorrow at 1 pm. CM Uddhav Thackeray will join the meeting through video conferencing as he is COVID-19 positive.

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Maharashtra Police, especially in Mumbai, has been put on high alert as the political turmoil in the state entered its fourth day, news agency ANI reported.

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Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday reached out to the functionaries of his party, which is currently battling a rebellion, and sought to allay fears surrounding the survival of his political outfit and the MVA government. “Despite the rebellions that the party has faced earlier, it came to power twice. I may have left ‘Varsha’, the chief minister’s official residence, but not my determination,” he said.

Poster of rebel Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande smeared with ink and a poster showing his picture torn in Mumbai:

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Shiv Sena workers vandalise the office of rebel MLA Mangesh Kundalkar in kurla.

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Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray hit out at rebel MLA Eknath Shinde saying that his own son is an MP but still comments are made regarding the chief minister’s son. He further said people are levelling false allegations against him.

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'We're Shiv Sainik & will fight'

After attending the party's district leaders' meeting in Mumbai, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that we're Shiv Sainik & will fight & will win. "What they (Rebel MLAs) are doing is not legal&politically not feasible. It's not happening for the first time with Shiv Sena," she said.

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Rebel MLAs betrayed the principles of Balasaheb Thackeray

Shiv Sena leader Dr Neelam Gorhe said that the only option for the (Rebel) MLAs in Guwahati is that they form their own group. "They betrayed the principles of Balasaheb Thackeray and Hindutva. They are the ones who will have to answer to the people of Maharashtra," she said.

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'We will try to keep govt stable'

Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said that NCP leaders will go to meet CM Uddhav Thackeray at 6.30 pm today at his residence Matoshree in Bandra. "Our stand is the same as yesterday. We will try to keep the govt stable," he said.

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'Whatever's happening in Maharashtra seems pre-planned'

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that BJP is destabilising non-BJP state governments by all means. "Whatever's happening in Maharashtra seems pre-planned," he said. Yadav said that BJP either pressurises, scares or buys. "Even in Bihar, people rejected BJP but CM Nitish Kumar was pressurised and same happened in the state," he said.

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BJP is using all its resources to oust Uddhav Thackeray

On the other hand, Congress leader AR Chowdhury said that from the day Uddhav Thackeray took over as Maharashtra CM, BJP is using all its resources, and muscle power with a single objective to oust him from power. "MVA govt is gradually earning the trust of the common people but it can't be digested by BJP." he said.

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Another Shiv Sena MLA identified as Dilip Lande joined the rebel MLAs at Guwahati hotel in Assam.

Deputy Speaker approves Ajay Chaudhary's appointment

Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker has approved Shiv Sena's proposal to appoint MLA Ajay Chaudhary as Shiv Sena legislative party leader in the state Assembly. A letter in this regard was sent to the Shiv Sena office secretary by the Deputy speaker's office.

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Bhupen Kumar Borah asks Eknath Shinde to leave Assam at the earliest

In the midst of the political crisis in Maharashtra, Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah has written a letter to Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and asked him to leave Assam at the earliest "in the interest of the state".

"Assam defamed by your presence considering Guwahati as a safe heaven for MLAs who have no respect for constitutional values and loyalty at all," the letter read.

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We will win on the floor of the house: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will win on the floor of the house. Raut said that the rebel MLAs have taken a very wrong step. "We also gave them a chance to return to Mumbai. Now, we challenge them to come to Mumbai," he said.

He also said that CM Uddhav Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar are in constant touch. All leaders of NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena are in touch with each other.

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'Uddhav Thackeray's time is up'

Reacting to the political situation in Maharashtra, Dr. Ramdas Athawale, MoS and President of the Republican Party of India said Uddhav Thackeray's time is up. "Most MLAs will go with Eknath Shinde (rebel Shiv Sena MLA) and he will form government with BJP," he said.

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Guwahati police arrest Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Bhosale

The  Shiv Sena has called a meeting of the party's district presidents to be chaired by CM Uddhav Thackeray at Shiv Sena Bhawan, Mumbai at 12 pm, today.

Amid the political instability in Maharashtra, the Guwahati police on Friday arrested Sanjay Bhosale, deputy district chief of Shiv Sena, who was present near Radisson Blu hotel in Assam. Bhosale had come to Assam to urge party MLAs and Eknath Shinde to return to Maharashtra. "This is a sensitive area. Action will be taken as per law," police official said.

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Tally of Eknath Shinde's MLAs to cross 50

According to sources, the strength of Shiv Sena MLAs in the Eknath Shinde camp is expected to cross 50 mark as more MLAs are likely to reach Guwahati today. Last night, three more MLAs arrived at the Guwahati hotel thereby taking the number to 44. The three leaders who arrived at the hotel included MLA and Agriculture Minister Dada Bhuse, MLA Sanjay Rathore and MLC Ravindra Phatak.

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After Eknath Shinde shared his letter on Twitter, Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat on Friday said that MLAs informed Uddhav Thackeray that whether it is Congress or NCP, both are trying to eliminate Shiv Sena. "Numerous times the MLAs sought time from Uddhav ji to meet him but he never met them," he said.

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The latest developments suggest rebel leader Eknath Shinde has reached the magic number of 50 MLAs. Eknath Shindhe on Friday morning claimed more than 50 MLAs are supporting him, including 40 from Shiv Sena.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2022 09:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).