Maharashtra Political Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: Can't Scare Us, Says Eknath Shinde As Sena Seeks Disqualification Of Rebels
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has left his official residence Varsha. NCP's Jayant Patil said he has invited all the party’s MLAs at 5 pm today.
"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," tweets rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde
"We know your ways and the law too! According to Schedule 10 of the Constitution, the whip is used for assembly work, not for meetings," Shinde added.
Uddhav Thackeray's close aide Ravindra Fatak, who was sent to as an emissary to Surat, has joined the Eknath Shinde-led faction.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Thursday that there are many good hotels in Assam, and anyone can come there and stay. “There is no issue with it. I don't know if Maharashtra MLAs are staying in Assam. MLAs of other states can also come and stay in Assam,” he added.
Sharad Pawar said Thursday that whether the Maharashtra government is in minority or not has to be established in the Vidhan Sabha. “When procedures will be followed, then it will be proved that this government is in majority,” he further said.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said: “We have seen such situations in Maharashtra several times. With my experience, I can say that we will defeat this crisis, and the government under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray will run smoothly”.
Eknath Shinde told other rebel MLAs with him in Guwahati that the BJP are a national party, and that they have told him that the decision which he has taken is historic, and whenever he needs them, they will be present.
Sharad Pawar said Thursday that Shiv Sena rebels led by Eknath Shinde will have to present themselves in Vidhan Sabha premises in Mumbai
Sharad Pawar said on Thursday: “Everyone knows how the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were taken to Gujarat & then Assam. We don't have to take the names of all those assisting them...The Assam Government is helping them. I don't need to take any names further”
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said that the way to prove if Maharashtra's Uddhav Thackeray-led government is in minority is through the floor of the Assembly.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Thursday that the MVA decided to back Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. “I believe once the (Shiv Sena) MLAs return to Mumbai the situation will change: NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai,” he added.
NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Thursday said: “The (Shiv Sena) MLAs go to other states and the police here do not even know...this in a way is an intelligence failure”.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said Thursday that he will call the chief minister and ask him why Sanjay Raut made such a statement. “Did Raut give this statement only to bring back the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena? I will discuss with the chief minister on Sanjay Raut's statement,” he added.
Maharashtra Congress’ Prithviraj Chavan said Thursday that the BJP wanted to create instability and destroy Shiv Sena so that they can emerge as the number one party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. He further said that the operation is being orchestrated from Delhi. He added that Devendra Fadnavis is going to Delhi to take instructions and logistical support.
The NCP on Thursday asserted it will do all it can to save Maharashtra's ruling alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and was firmly with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose party Shiv Sena is facing a rebellion in its legislative ranks, threatening the stability of his government, news agency PTI reported.
Speaking to reporters after a party meeting chaired by NCP president Sharad Pawar in the backdrop of the prevailing political crisis in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said his party was firmly with the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA.
"We will do all we can to save the alliance government," Ajit Pawar said
"I spoke to Uddhav Thackeray over the phone (about the political crisis)," he added.
The MVA has been pushed to the brink after a section of Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Cabinet minister Eknath Shinde, raised a banner of revolt against the party leadership.
Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, rejected criticism that he has denied development funds to MVA allies Congress and the Shiv Sena.
"I have never discriminated against anyone. There was never any cut on budgetary funds," he said.
Rebel Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLAs in Guwahati unanimously chose Eknath Shinde as their leader.
NCP leader Jayant Patil said Thursday that the MVA has a majority and is still in power. “It's just that some Shiv Sena MLAs have gone to another state after being unhappy but we are confident that Shiv Sena will succeed in bringing them back,” he further said.
After the party meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said: “We stand with CM Uddhav Thackeray & will support him till the last moment... We have numbers for the government as no MLA of Shiv Sena has resigned nor Shiv Sena has expelled anyone from the party”.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said Thursday that it is the responsibility of all the three parties (NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena) to save the government. Only Sanjay Raut knows why he made such a statement, Pawar said, referring to Raut saying Shiv Sena mulling to exit MVA.
“We will stand with Uddhav Thackeray ji till the end. We are keeping an eye on the current political situation,” NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said on Thursday.
A meeting of Congress leaders on the current political developments in Maharashtra is being held at Sahyadri Guest House, Mumbai, in the presence of HK Patil, AICC Incharge, Maharashtra, state party president Nana Patole and others.
After the party meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said that if time comes, then they can provide support to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government from outside also. “It was our regular meeting and did not happen on the statement of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut,” he added.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Thursday said: “BJP is trying to destabilise the government, BJP is trying to split Shiv Sena. We are working on how to sort this out… Maha Vikas Aghadi govt will continue and will complete 5 years. We're keeping an eye on the situation. Congress stands with MVA”
Maharashtra Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Thursday said: “To stop the BJP (from coming to power) in 2019, Maha Vikas Aghadi was constituted on a common minimum program. Congress still sticks to that and our support for Maha Vikas Aghadi continues”.
While Shinde has been able to build a crisis in Maharashtra politics pushing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on the verge of resigning from his post, now the rebel leader will be submitting a letter of support to the governor's office tomorrow. According to ABP News sources, Shinde, who has triggered the political chaos in the state has the support of 40 Shiv Sena MLAs who are currently lodged in the Radisson Blue Hotel with him in Guwahati.
Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Tanaji Sawant said Thursday that MLA Kailash Patil is trying to gain sympathy of 'Matoshree' (Uddhav Thackeray) by fabricating stories. “He is lying in front of the media. We had arranged for him to return to Mumbai from Surat. Eknath Shinde did not force any MLA to join him,” he added.
Shiv Sena's three MLAs -Dada bhuse, Sanjay rathod, Ravindra pathak are going Guwahati to join Shinde's camp.
On Thursday, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said: “If what Sanjay Raut said is correct...if they (Shiv Sena) want to go on that path (exit MVA) then they should talk to our leader NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Nobody can stop them, every party can go on their own path”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said: “We want justice for Uddhav Thackeray and all. Today (BJP) you're in power & using money, muscle, mafia power. But one day you have to go. Someone can break your party too. This is wrong and I don’t support it,” news agency ANI quoted Banerjee as saying.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Thursday said: “We are in the Sharad Pawar-led MVA and are with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray”. He added: “If at all we aren't in power, we know how to fight while being in opposition”.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said Thursday that if some people want to go out, then they will somehow find the reason to do that. Even in governments run by a single party, there can be internal issues, he added. Here, there are three different parties, and so, there could be differences, but that does not mean the government should be destabilised, he further said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked the BJP to send Maharashtra MLAs to Bengal. “Send Maharashtra MLAs to Bengal, we will extend good hospitality to them,” she said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Thursday that the BJP is trying to topple the Maharashtra government in an unethical manner.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said: “Amid floods in Assam, why are Maharashtra MLAs being sent to that state to disturb affected people”.
Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge said Thursday that the party will stand with Maha Vikas Aghadi, and that the party wants to work together. “The present Maharashtra govt is doing developmental work in the state. BJP is trying to destabilise the Maharashtra government. They did the same in the past too in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Goa,” he added.
Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge said Thursday that the BJP and the Centre are fully responsible for destabilising a stable government in Maharashtra to form their own government in the state. He added that they are doing this for the Presidential polls. He further said that the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena will strengthen Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Referring to Sanjay Raut’s statement that Shiv Sena is party mulling stepping out of the MVA, NCP leader Jayant Patil said “they may have thought of something and said it.” He added: “We will speak to them. They have not said anything to us directly. We won't comment on it yet”.
Ahead of the NCP meeting amid the ongoing political crisis, NCP leader Jayant Patil said: “ We will stand firmly with CM Uddhav Thackeray Ji till the end. We will try our best to save this government”.
NCP leader Praful Patel has arrived at the YB Chavan Centre for a meeting with party MLAs over the ongoing political developments in Maharashtra. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar will also attend the meeting.
Eknath Shinde camp said Thursday that when Uddhav Thackeray will resign and come out of MVA, they will talk. “We cannot believe what Uddhav Thackeray says,” the camp said, ABP News reported.
NCP leader Jayant Patil tweeted on Thursday: "Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is a government established for the development and welfare of Maharashtra. We will stand firmly with Uddhavji Thackeray till the end”.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said Thursday that the Congress is with the Shiv Sena to stop the BJP from coming to power. He added that the game is happening due to the ED, and that Congress is ready for the floor test. “We are with the MVA and will remain. If they want to form an alliance with anyone, we don’t have a problem.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Thursday that MLAs should not communicate from Guwahati, but should come back to Mumbai and discuss all this with the chief minister. “We are ready to consider exiting MVA if this is the will of all MLAs, but for that, they have to come here and discuss it with the chief minister,” Raut said.
After Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh alleged that he was forcibly taken to Surat, rebel leader Eknath Shinde released earlier pictures of Deshmukh with other rebel leaders.
The Indian National Congress has called a meeting of its leaders at Sahyadri guest house at 4 pm on Thursday. This comes after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut talked about existing the MVA government, if existing MLAs want that. Senior Congress leaders HK Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole and Ashok Chavan will attend the meeting.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Thursday that BJP’s Maharashtra leader Devendra Fadnavis and all the central leaders of the party are keeping an eye on the political situation in Maharashtra. Sawant added that Fadnavis is capable of taking a decision in the interest of the state.
Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh said Thursday that before him, MLA Prakash Abitkar tried to get away from the police personnel but he could not. “We got to know about the conspiracy against the MVA government as soon as we reached Surat's hotel,” Deshmukh said.
Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh said Thursday that the party members were forcibly taken to Surat. He further said he tried to run away but was caught by the Surat police. “Despite having no complications, doctors told me that I had a heart attack,” he added. As many as 300-350 police personnel were keeping an eye on them, he claimed.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Thursday that Uddhav Thackeray will come back to Varsha Bungalow very soon. “21 MLAs in Guwahati have contacted us and when they return to Mumbai, they will be with us,” he added.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Thursday that the party is ready to walk out of the MVA government in Maharashtra, but the party members should return to Mumbai.
Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut said Thursday that at least 18 MLAs in Guwahati have contacted party leaders in Mumbai, and that several of them will return soon.
According to Shiv Sena sources, 13 MLAs are still with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the party. They are in constant touch with the chief minister.
In a fresh video from Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, rebel Maharashtra MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, can be seen sitting together and raising slogans of "Shinde sa'ab tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hain."
As many as 42 Shiv Sena MLAs, 7 Independents are with Eknath Shinde, ABP News reported.
Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire said Thursday that a meeting will take place at Varsha Bungalow, which is the official residence of the chief minister of Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray has asked the party MLAs to go to Varsha, Khaire said.
The rebel Shiv Sena MLA’s letter shared by Eknath Shinde said: “When Hindutva and Ram Mandir are crucial issues for the party, then why did the party stop us from visiting Ayodhya? MLAs were called & were stopped from going to Ayodhya during Aaditya Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya.”
The rebel Shiv Sena MLA’s letter shared by Eknath Shinde said: “While we weren't able to meet the CM, people from our 'real opposition'-- the Congress and the NCP used to get opportunities to meet him & even funds were given to them related to work in their constituencies”.
A rebel Shiv Sena MLA’s letter shared by Eknath Shinde said the chief minister of Maharashtra never used to be in the Secretariat. Instead, he used to be in Matoshree. “We used to call people around the chief minister but they never used to attend our calls. We were fed up with all these things & persuaded Eknath Shinde to take this step,” the letter stated.
According to ABP News sources, the Shiv Sena MLAs present in Radisson Blu Guwahati are as follows:
1. Mahendra Morre
2. Bharat Gogawal
3. Mahendra Dalvi
4. Anil Babar
5. Mahesh Shinde
6. Shahaji Patil
7. Shambhuraje Desai
8. Dayaraj Chougule
9. Ramesh Bornare
10. Tanaji Sawant
11. Sandipan Bhumre
12. Abdul Sattar
13. Prakash Surve
14. Balaji Kalyankar
15. Sanjay Shirsat
16. Pradeep Jaiswal
17. Sanjay Raimulkar
18. Sanjay Gaikwad
19. Eknath Shinde
20. Vishwanath Bhoir
21. Shantaram More
22. Sriniwas Vanga
23. Parkash Abhitkar
24. Chimanrao Patil
25. Suhas Kande
26. Kishorappa Patil
27. Partap Sarnaik
28. Yamini Jadhav
29. Lata sonawane
30. Balaji kinikar
31. Gulabrao patil
32. Yogesh kadam
33. Sada sarvankar
34. Deepak kesarkar
35. Mangesh kudalkar
The independent MLAs and other rebels present in the luxury hotel are as follows:
1. Rajkumar Patel, Prahar Sanghatan
2. Bachchu Kadu, Prahar Sanghatan
3. Narendra Bhondekar ( Ind)
4. Rajendra Patil Yadavkar(Ind)
5. Chandrakant Patil(Ind)
6. Manjula Gavit(Ind)
7. Ashish jaiswal (Ind)
A Shiv Sena MLA’s letter shared by Eknath Shinde on Thursday stated that despite having a Shiv Sena member as the chief minister of Maharashtra, the party MLAs never got the opportunity to visit Varhsa Bungalow. The letter said that people around the chief minister used to decide if they could meet him or not. “We felt we were insulted,” the letter said.
Background
Several Shiv Sena MLAs who are upset with the style of functioning of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress have started a rebellion, which has plunged the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra into a crisis. This is the worst political crisis the Shiv Sena government is facing since it came to power in 2019.
The dissidents are being led by party leader Eknath Shinde. They said Wednesday that they do not have complaints against the Sena leadership.
Political Crisis Erupted On June 20
The political turmoil in Maharashtra erupted on Monday, June 20. Since then, Shinde and the other rebel leaders went incommunicado and travelled to Surat in Gujarat, media reports said.
Shinde on Wednesday claimed the support of 46 MLAs, including six to seven independent MLAs, news agency ANI reported. He said that the rest are Shiv Sena MLAs and that the number will eventually rise. He stated that as of now, the dissidents are neither holding any talks with the BJP nor have received any proposal from them.
The MVA government includes 55 members from the Shiv Sena, 53 from the NCP, and 44 from the Congress.
Jayant Patil Invites NCP’s MLAs At 5 PM On Thursday
The Nationalist Congress Party’s Jayant Patil said Thursday that he has invited all the party’s MLAs at 5 pm on the same day for a meeting. He said he will brief them on the ongoing developments.
Patil also said that all the MPs, and organisation chief Sharad Pawar will be there too.
He said the chief ministerial post has been given to the Shiv Sena, therefore, it is their internal decision whom they want to give it to.
“If the government stays we will be in power, if the government goes we will sit in Opposition,” Patil further said.
Uddhav Thackeray Left Varsha On Wednesday
Eknath Shinde said Wednesday that it is imperative for Shiv Sena to walk out of the 'unnatural alliance’ with NCP and Congress to save the party.
Uddhav Thackeray addressed the public on Facebook Live on Wednesday. He said he has kept his letter of resignation as the chief minister of Maharashtra ready, and that he is willing to resign from his post at this very moment.
Sanjay Raut said Wednesday that Uddhav Thackeray will remain the chief minister of Maharashtra and the ruling coalition MVA will prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly if needed.
On Wednesday, Thackeray, along with his family, left his official residence Varsha for Matoshree.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar advised Shinde to become the chief minister of Maharashtra, ABP News reported.
Uddhav Thackeray Tests Positive For Covid-19
On Wednesday, June 22, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tested positive for Covid-19. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has also tested positive for Covid-19 and has been hospitalised.
Sanjay Raut Says Talks With Shinde Are “Positive”
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday that there is a possibility that the Legislative Assembly may be dissolved amid the political crisis.
Raut said he has been holding discussions with Shinde and that the talks are "positive".
Raut told reporters in Mumbai that Shinde has not put forth any conditions before the party, and that discussions are being held with other Sena leaders who support Shinde. Raut also said that Thackeray will speak to NCP Chief Sharad Pawar.
Dissidents Do Not Have Complaints Against Sena Leadership: Sandipan Bhumare
Sandipan Bhumare, a Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister, said Wednesday that the dissidents led by party leader Eknath Shinde do not have complaints against the Sena leadership, but they have been upset with the style of function of the NCP and Congress. These are the other two ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra. Bhumare is among the dissidents led by Shiv Sena leader Shinde.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Bhumare told a TV channel over the phone that the dissidents do not have any complaints against the Shiv Sena leadership, and that they have raised their complaints with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, that it was getting difficult to work with the NCP and Congress ministers. "It was very difficult for us to get our proposals and work requests approved from their ministers," he further said.
The rebellion of the Shiv Sena MLAs against the party has plunged the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra into a crisis. The MLAs arrived in Guwahati, Assam, by a chartered flight on Wednesday, the report said.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Shiv Sena workers gathered outside the party headquarters in Mumbai to express solidarity with party President Uddhav Thackeray. Since an increasing number of Shiv Sena supporters were gathering outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar area, additional personnel were deployed.
Describing the political crisis in Maharashtra as an internal matter of the Shiv Sena, Pawar said the NCP will support the decisions made by the Thackeray-led outfit.
Pawar, who spoke to Thackeray on Tuesday morning, told a press conference in New Delhi that before making any comments, he would wait for the Shiv Sena to make an assessment of the situation.
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