Maharashtra Political Crisis: MLA Support To Eknath Shinde Swells, Fadnavis To Meet BJP Leaders In Delhi | Key Points

Ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis will be reaching Delhi after holding a series of meetings in Mumbai amid the deepening political crisis in Maharashtra to meet BJP high command in Delhi.

New Delhi:  With the rebellion MLAs pushing the Shiv-Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government to the brink of collapse, the Shiv Sena will file a petition for disqualification of 15 MLAs before the deputy speaker, according to ABP sources. More Shiv Sena MLAs have joined rebelled Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde’s camp and the strength of Shiv Sena MLAs is expected to cross 50 as more MLAs are likely to reach Guwahati by Friday, according to news agency ANI sources.

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1. The newly appointed Shiv Sena legislative party leader Ajay Chaudhari on Thursday submitted a petition to the deputy speaker of the state assembly Narahari Zirwal demanding disqualification of 12 MLAs from the rebel group for not attending the legislative party’s meeting convened by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday.

2. Undettered by the disqualification of MLAs, the disgruntled Sena leader Eknath Shinde said on Thursday, “You cannot scare us by giving the names of 12 MLAs for disqualification because we are followers of the Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. We know the law, so we do not pay heed to threats.” He wrote in Marathi, “Who are you trying to scare? According to the 10th Schedule to the Constitution the whip is for assembly work, not for meeting. There are numerous Supreme Court decisions in this regard.”

3. Ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis will be reaching Delhi after holding a series of meetings in Mumbai amid the deepening political crisis in Maharashtra to meet BJP high command in Delhi. It is expected that the leader will meet the party president JP Nadda and home minister Amit Shah to decide the future strategy.

4. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde wrote to the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly regarding the reaffirmation of his appointment as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party and further appointment of Bharatshet Gogawale as the Chief Whip of the party, news agency ANI reported. In a video released by Shinde’s camp, which shows the leader speaking to the group in Guwahati, Shinde said: “The national party, which shook Pakistan, has told us that the decision we have taken was historic. They have pledged their support to us.”

5. Shinde said one big national party lauded him for taking the "historic decision". Hinting at the BJP, he added, “We have all our power behind you, if there is any need in future, we will not allow anything to be lacking. We assure this.” Eknath Shinde's letter signed by MLAs can be sent to the Governor. Shinde claims to have the support of 42 MLAs. “More MLAs are about to come on Thursday because of which we had to hold the letters to get their signatures. The letter will be sent to the Governor after the signature of the MLAs who will come by today or tomorrow.”

6. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that the floor test will decide who has the majority. Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party, or MVA, is a Shiv Sena ally, told reporters this evening, "A floor test will decide who has majority". "Maharashtra government is in minority or not has to be established in Vidhan Sabha. When procedures will be followed, then it will be proved that this government is in majority," the leader said.