Maharashtra Political Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: CM Uddhav Leaves Matoshree With Family, Sainiks Gather Outside Building
The political turmoil in Maharashtra erupted on Monday, June 20. Shiv Sena MLAs who are upset with the style of functioning of the NCP and Congress have started a rebellion.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said 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, an assertion coming in the backdrop of rebellion by senior Cabinet member Eknath Shinde that has put a question mark on the stability of the state government.
Talking to reporters here, Raut said Thackeray is leaving 'Varsha', the official residence of the CM in South Mumbai, and going back to his private residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra. He also clarified that Thackeray is not resigning from his post.
Hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar broke his silence over the ongoing political crisis in the state, Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut said: "If we get the chance, we will prove our majority on the floor of the House."
Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat will meet soon Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at his Varsha Bungalow in Mumbai.
Eknath Shinde said it is imperative for Shiv Sena to walk out of "unnatural alliance" with NCP and Congress to save party and party workers.
An emotional Shiv Sena worker outside the official residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Wednesday that Shiv Sena will never support. "We stand behind Uddhav ji. What Eknath Shinde has done is not right," he added.
In this video, Shiv Sena workers can be seen gathered outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Varsha bungalow to express their support.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray may leave his official residence Varsha, ABP News reported.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Uma Bharti has made a big statement on the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. Comparing the Maharashtra government to a rotten fruit, Bharti called the state government 'unnatural', ABP News reported.
BJP leader Raosaheb Patil Danve said Wednesday that no Shiv Sena MLA is in touch with the party. "We haven't spoken to Eknath Shinde. This is Shiv Sena's internal matter. BJP has nothing to do with this. We are not staking claim to form government," he further said. His comments came after meeting Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai.
In this video, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray can be seen coming out to greet his supporters after his meeting with NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and NCP leader Supriya Sule at his residence in Mumbai.
In this video, NCP leader Supriya Sule can be seen showing thumbs up after the meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. The meeting between NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, CM Thackeray, and Sule lasted almost an hour.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has advised Eknath Shinde to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, ABP News reported, quoting sources.
The meeting between Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, and Supriya Sule has concluded
The meeting between Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has been going on for almost an hour, ABP News reported.
Meeting between Uddhav Thackeray-Sharad Pawar continues - The meeting between the two has been going on for 50 minutes
Posters have been put up in Thane, Maharashtra, in support of Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of MLAs on Thursday.
Uddhav Thackeray said he has kept his letter of resignation as the chief minister of Maharashtra ready, and that he is willing to resign as from his post at this very moment.
Uddhav Thackeray said Sharad Pawar and Kamal Nath phoned him to say they want him to continue as chief minister.
Uddhav Thackeray said he is getting calls from MLAs who have gone with Eknath Shinde. He said they are claiming that they were forcibly taken away.
Uddhav Thackeray said he will be happy if another person from Shiv Sena succeeds him as the chief minister if he quits
Speaking about the political crisis in Maharashtra, Congress MP KC Venugopal said it is an internal issue of Shiv Sena and the party leadership can sort it out easily. He added that the problem is the BJP's attitude of using money and agencies to poach the MLAs. He said he thinks Shiv Sena will survive
The official press note of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's address from Shiv Sena mentions that the chief minister is Covid-19 positive.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and Jitendra Awhad have arrived at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Wednesday that he is ready to give his resignation to the MLAs. He added that the MLAs should take his resignation to Raj Bhavan.
Uddhav further said he is ready to leave the post of Shiv Sena party head too, not on the insistence of others, but his workers.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut tweeted on Wednesday: "Yes Will Struggle".
Uddhav said Wednesday that he is ready to leave his chief ministerial post. He added that it is not about numbers but how many are against him. He said he will leave even if one person or MLA is against him.
Uddhav Thackeray said during on Facebook Live that chief ministerial posts will come and go, but the real asset is the affection of the people. He added that in the past two years, he was fortunate enough to get a lot of affection from people.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Wednesday on Facebook Live that when all the three parties -- NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena -- came together in 2019, Sharad Pawar told him that he has to take the responsibility of the chief ministerial post. He said he did not even have prior experience, but took the responsibility.
Uddhav further said that Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi helped him a lot, and that they kept their faith in him.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that when his own people do not want him, what can he say. "If they had something against me, what was the need of saying all this in Surat, they could have come here and said this to my face," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that if any MLA wants him to not continue as the chief minister, he is ready to take all his belongings from Varsha Bungalow to Matoshri.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said he will quit his position as the chief minister of Maharashtra and leave his official residence even if one of the disgruntled MLAs says they do not want him as the chief minister.
Uddhav Thackeray said he does not want to get into what is happening with Shiv Sena's MLAs and where they are going or where they are being taken.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has started interacting with the public through Facebook Live
Speaking on the issue of Maharashtra MLAs led by dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde staying at a luxury hotel in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said: "Why should there be reason for any controversy regarding their visit? We welcome all tourists to visit Assam now as we need funds to deal with floods."
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will brief the media today evening in Guwahati, Assam.
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and NCP leader Jayant Patil said Wednesday that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray took part in today's cabinet meeting via video conferencing, and that he will be doing a Facebook Live today.
Eknath Shinde's press conference in connection with the political crisis in Maharashtra may be held on Wednesday, June 22, at 7 pm, ABP News reported.
The Shiv Sena Legislature Party resolution carrying the signature of 34 MLAs, and stating that Eknath Shinde remains the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party has been sent to the governor.
The Shiv Sena Legislature Party resolution which was passed on Tuesday, June 21, states that Eknath Shinde, who had been unanimously elected as the leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party in 2019, continues to be the leader, news agency ANI reported. Bharat Gogawale has been appointed as the Chief Representative of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party. The resolution carries the signature of 34 MLAs.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will interact with the public through Facebook Live at 5 pm on Wednesday, the Office of the Chief Minister tweeted. He will give his feedback on the current developments.
Maharashtra BJP Chief Chandrakant Patil has arrived in Surat, Gujarat, on a chartered flight. He will reach Guwahati, Assam, along with four MLAs, news agency ANI reported.
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde tweeted on Wednesday that party MLA Bharat Gogawale has been appointed as the Chief Representative of Shiv Sena Legislature. He said the reason is that the orders issued by Sunil Prabhu regarding the cabinet meeting on Wednesday are legally invalid.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Covid-19 RT-PCR test came negative. His rapid antigen test was positive.
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Congress leader Nitin Raut said Wednesday that there was no point in holding political discussions because the situation is completely under control. He added that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who joined the cabinet meeting via video conferencing, had a smile on his face. "You can understand he is not tensed, so, the government is not tensed either," news agency ANI quoted Nitin Raut as saying.
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said Wednesday that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has made it clear there is no proposal to recommend dissolution of state Assembly.
Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh said Wednesday that he is in good health. "I was taken to a hospital in Surat by 20-25 people and police personnel. They said I had suffered a heart attack but I never suffered any heart attack. Their intention was wrong. I was given some injections forcibly," Deshmukh further said, news agency PTI reported.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, chaired the state cabinet via video conferencing.
Maharashtra cabinet minister Aslam Shaikh said only cabinet agenda was discussed, and that no discussion on the present political situation took place. He added that Subhash Desai, Shankar Rao Gadakh were physically present, and that Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, and several others joined the meeting in virtual mode, news agency ANI reported.
Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said there were no difficulties, and that the government will continue. When asked whether the political crisis was discussed in the cabinet meeting, he replied: "No. No discussion is needed".
Earlier in the day, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was held at the residence of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Balasaheb Thorat.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Wednesday that Kaziranga is a good place to visit, and that the area is also receiving good rainfall. He said those who want to see nature can go there.
Maharashtra MLAs, who are upset about the style of functioning of the NCP and the Congress, are camping in Guwahati, Assam.
After the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh said that cabinet issues and agenda were discussed, and that no political discussions were held there.
Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat told reporters on Wednesday that there are no difficulties, and that everything will be alright. He said the government will continue. When asked if the Maharashtra political crisis was discussed in the cabinet meeting, he replied: "No. No discussion is needed".
“As far as the current political situation is concerned, I would say that we are Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sainiks and will continue to be Shiv Sainiks. As of now, we are not holding any talks with Shiv Sena or CM. We have not decided on the future course of action, “ Shinde said Wednesday.
Eknath 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.
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.
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.
Responding to a question, Bhumare had said that he was given a cabinet portfolio and was satisfied with it.
"What else do I need in life. But, as a people's representative, I need to address the grievances of my people. I could not do it properly because of these two alliance partners,” Bhumare was quoted as saying in the report.
Sanjay Shirsath, another dissident Shiv Sena MLA, told a TV channel that 35 party legislators were in Guwahati. He claimed that a couple of more MLAs will join them by today evening, and that they also have the support of three independent MLAs.
Targeting state NCP and Congress ministers, Shirsath claimed their "hostile behaviour" forced the Sena legislators to revolt.
BJP Exploring Possibility Of Govt Formation In State: Senior Leader
On Tuesday evening, a senior BJP leader from Maharashtra said the BJP was exploring the possibility of government formation in the state amid the political crisis. The leader spoke to PTI on the condition of anonymity. He had served as a minister in the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government, and said "our priority is for the smooth transition of power".
According to media reports, BJP sources said several leaders from the party, including Devendra Fadnavis, held marathon meetings on Tuesday to discuss Constitutional provisions.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said Tuesday that the party would consider a proposal to form a government if it comes from Shinde. The BJP has 106 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the effective strength of which now stands at 285.
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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