Maharashtra: Shiv Sena 'Connects' With Eknath Shinde, BJP Observing Situation | Top Developments

Shiv Sena has established a connection with Minister Eknath Shinde while BJP has blamed Sanjay Raut for political turmoil in the state and said the party is observing the turn of events minutely.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

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New Delhi: With a huge setback in the Maharashtra biennial election on Tuesday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi seems to be in trouble. While BJP has claimed that cross-voting helped them win the polls, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened an emergency meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs today. This comes after prominent Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde reportedly went inaccessible with 25 party MLAs.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) that went to polls on Monday. 

After the MLC results, Eknath Shinde who also won the election has reached Surat, according to ABP News sources, and will be addressing the media today. Here are the latest political developments amid reports speculating a crisis in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance:

• Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has confirmed that the communication has been established with Maharastra Minister Eknath Shinde.
• According to ABP News sources, Shinde is in a five-star hotel in Gujarat’s Surat city along with 25 Shiv Sena MLAs. Shinde is reportedly upset amid allegations of cross-voting.
• After Shinde went incommunicado, Sanjay Raut said, "efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh."
• Maharashtra BJP Chief Chandrakant Patil commented on the 'political turmoil' in Maharashtra and said, "We're minutely observing the turn of events. It's a little premature to say that it'll lead to any changes. It's a handle-with-care situation. We have to see it very keenly. We are observing all situations."
• Patil added, "When Nana Patole spoke about the Centre's intervention in Vidhan Parishad, I said that a script needs to be prepared after loss & he had already prepared it. Similarly, Sanjay Raut is writing the script of this rebellion (Eknath Shinde's)."
• Maharashtra's opposition leader also reached New Delhi and while speculations were rife that he is in the national capital in connection with the political turmoil in Maharashtra, Patil said, "It is our tradition that we need to go to our national leaders with sweets, after winning an election. Devendra Fadnavis has gone to distribute sweets among our party leaders in Delhi."
• Reacting to the recent turn of events, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said, "Let's not go into ifs and buts. Voting (MLC) took place only yesterday. Our majority (numbers) has gone down a little, it is a matter of concern."
• When asked if BJP will stake claims in Maharashtra after the victory in the Municipal elections, BJP leader Pravin Darekar said, "whatever is right for people of Maharashtra will be done. Their interest is more important than their power. If it's needed for Maharashtra such a movement can take place."
• While BJP is claiming that there is a crisis among the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress alliance, Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole said, "BJP misuses its power, they are taking the Indian democracy towards untruthfulness. I am sure the truth will win. I have called a meeting of all Maharashtra Congress leaders today."
• After the political developments in Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut said, "I know Eknath Shinde Ji, he is a true Shiv Sainik. He will return without any conditions."