New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called a meeting of the Shiv Sena’s national executive committee on Saturday at 1pm. This comes after the CM addressed the party workers for the second time in a week on Friday. The meeting will take place in the Shiv Sena Bhavan and CM Uddhav Thackeray will be joining it virtually, as per reports. As the crisis continued, the rebels' group led by Minister Eknath Shinde claimed the support of around 40 MLAs leaving the Shiv Sena with 17 legislators.
Meanwhile, the rebel camp also filed a notice on June 21 to move a motion for the removal of Deputy Speaker Narhari Jirwal from his post. The rebel group said that Deputy Speaker Narhari Jirwal accepted Uddhav Thackeray’s demand for the removal of Shinde and disqualification of 15 MLAs without consulting the other side.
Earlier in the day, the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly approved Sena’s proposal to appoint MLA Ajay Choudhary as the leader of the legislature party in the state assembly.
In his address to the Shiv Sena’s district chiefs and taluka heads earlier in the day, CM Thackeray said that although he has left Varsha bungalow, the official residence of the chief minister, he has not given up the fight.
Talking about the upheaval, he said that these things keep happening. The workers should focus on strengthening the organisation.
He urged the Tehsil chiefs, district heads and others to get in touch with the people in their respective areas and work to strengthen the organisation.
On the question of him joining the BJP, as quoted by news agency ANI, he said, “BJP, that defamed our party, my family, is the one you are talking about going with. Such a question doesn't even arise. If MLAs want to go there they can, all of them can. I won't. If someone wants to go - be it an MLA or someone else - come & tell us and then go.”
“A few days back when I suspected this, I called Eknath Shinde and told him to perform his duty of taking Shiv Sena forward, doing this isn't right. He told me NCP-Congress are trying to finish us and MLAs want us to go with BJP. I told him to bring to me MLAs who want it,” Uddhav said.
Speaking about the rebel MLAs, he said, “Congress and NCP are supporting us today, Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi have supported us. But our own people have backstabbed us. We gave tickets to people who could not have won and we made them victorious. Those people have backstabbed us today.”
Reiterating his stand to step down as the CM if the Shiv Sainiks want him to, Uddhav further said, “If you think I'm useless and incapable of running the party, tell me. I'm ready to separate myself from the party, you can tell me. You respected me so far because Balasaheb said so. If you say I am incapable, then I am ready to quit the party right at this moment.”
“When BJP and Shiv Sena were considered untouchables in the name of Hindutva and nobody was ready to go with BJP, Balasaheb said there shouldn't be a division of Hindutva votes. We remained with BJP and we are suffering its consequences now,” he said.
In a bid to boost the morale of his party workers, Uddhav said, “Many of you might be getting phone calls - some loving & some threatening… Shiv Sena like a sword, if you keep it in sheath,it rusts. If you take it out,it shines. It's time to shine.”
"I'm accused of whatever I did for my son, his (Eknath Shinde) son became MP of Shiv Sena twice. Those who have to go, can go. I'll raise Shiv Sena again. When you Shiv Sainiks are with me, I don't care about anything else, you're Balasaheb's Shiv Sainiks, you're my glory," he added.
As per reports, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal is likely to send notices to 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs on Friday for a hearing on the petition filed by Shiv Sena for their suspension. The hearing may take place on Monday, June 27.