New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday targeted party rebel MLA Eknath Shinde and his faction amid the political crisis that continued for the third day in Maharashtra. The Sena leader said that Eknath Shinde's faction must realise that Shiv Sena workers are yet to come on the roads. "Eknath Shinde faction that's challenging us must realise that Shiv Sena workers are yet to come on the roads. Such battles are fought either through law or on the roads. If need be then our workers would come on the roads," Raut said while talking to reporters, reported news agency ANI.
Raut added that process was underway to dimiss 12 party legislators belonging to Shinde's camp, "Process underway to disqualify 12 MLAs (of Eknath Shinde faction), their numbers are only on the papers. Shiv Sena is a big ocean such waves come and go," he added.
The Rajya Sabha MP also alleged that a Union Minister has been threatening Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — an alliance in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi along side Shiv Sena — chief Sharad Pawar and questioned whether the minister was being supported by the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.
"Threats are being given to Sharad Pawar ji by a Central minister. Do such threats have the support of Modi Ji and Amit Shah Ji?...We are taking action to disqualify the (rebel) MLAs," Raut said.
Meanwhile, as per a report by ANI, the support for Shinde might increase further as more MLAs are expected to reach Guwahati today crossing the cumulative number of legislators on Shinde's side to 50.