Maharashtra Political Coup: Rebel Shinde Speaks To CM Thackeray, BJP Keeping Close Eye | Updates

Thackeray's confidants Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak were finally able to entre the hotel in Surat on Tuesday evening and held a detailed discussion with rebel Shinde.

Hours after number of dissident Shiv Sena MLAs started camping at a hotel in Surat, Uddhav Thackeray's representatives were successful in establishing contact between Maharashtra Chief Minister and Eknath Shinde. This is said to be the first major breakthrough ever since the political turmoil started in Maharashtra after Shinde along with several other sena MLAs announced rebellion againt the party.

According to reports, Thackeray's confidants Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak were finally able to entre the hotel in Surat on Tuesday evening and held a detailed discussion with rebel Shinde and other MLAs. Narvekar and Phatak left for Mumbai by road without responding to queries of the media after the meeting which lasted for nearly two hours.

Maharashtra Political Crisis: Key Developments

1. During the meeting, sources close to news agency IANS said Shinde was unmoved and had some tough questions for CM Thackeray. after almost one-and-a-half hour close door meeting, Milind left for Mumbai. Before leaving his statement was, "Eknath Shinde had telephonic conversation with Uddhav Thackeray." During his interactions, Shinde asked Narvekar and Phatak, "Even when I am still an MLA and a minister in the cabinet, how can the Chief Minister remove me as legislative party leader?"

2. It was also conveyed by rebel MLAs to Thackeray that he should mind his business and Eknath will mind his own. Shinde confidently conveyed that he has numbers with him and does not need to worry about others. Attempts are on to defuse the internecine crisis between Shinde camp and CM Thackeray, having the potential to threaten the survival of the MVA government in Maharashtra.

3. Meanwhile, the Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is keeping a close watch on political developments in Maharashtra and exploring all the options. It is being reported that BJP central leadership is calculating the numbers and is hoping that Shinde will bring more MLAs in his camp. After being sure of numbers, the BJP will approach the Governor with a request to ask the MVA government to prove the majority on the floor of the Assembly, IANS reported. 

4. It further jolt to the MVA government and the Shiv Sena, number of dissident MLAs is increasing and by the evening two more MLAs including a female one has reached the hotel. Earlier, only 30 rooms were booked in the hotel, now 20 more have been booked.

5. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena men and women activists staged protest demonstrations in south Mumbai on Tuesday against, what they termed, the "BJP-instigated" rebellion led by Shinde. Sena leader Ravindra Mirlekar slammed the manner in which many of party MLAs were "misled" and taken to Surat in neighbouring Gujarat.