New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that it is essential for the party to get out of the ‘unnatural alliance’ for its survival. Taking to his Twitter handle, Shinde wrote, “It is essential to get out of the unnatural front for the survival of the party and Shiv Sainiks.”
Citing a number of points, the rebel Sena leader said ‘tougher decisions’ need to be taken for the benefit of Maharashtra.
He wrote in Marathi, “In the last two and a half years, MVA government benefited only the constituent parties. While the constituent parties are getting stronger, the Shiv Sainiks - Shiv Sena is being systematically embezzled.”
“It is essential to get out of the unnatural front for the survival of the party and Shiv Sainiks. Tougher decisions need to be taken now in the interest of Maharashtra,” Shinde further wrote.
Notably, NCP president Sharad Pawar met Uddhav Thackeray earlier in the day and advised him to make rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde the Chief Minister.
Extending an olive branch to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said he would be happy if a Shiv Sainik succeeded him as chief minister.
It is to be noted that the rebellion by Shinde, who has claimed the support of 46 MLAs, has put a question mark on the stability of the MVA dispensation in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena has 55 members in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
The MVA government of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress together has 152 legislators.
Earlier in the day, Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs were flown to Guwahati in Assam from Surat, where they were camping since early Tuesday.