Maharashtra crisis: Important TOI stories you should not miss

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena's dissident leader Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted that 40 MLAs from Maharashtra have accompanied him to Guwahati in Assam.
The Shiv Sena legislators have rebelled against the party, plunging the tripartite MVA government, comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress, into a crisis.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut indicated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray could recommend to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to dissolve the state Assembly, as the crisis for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government deepened.
Important TOI stories you should not miss-
Eknath Shinde: Auto driver, diehard Sainik, neta with a grudge
Eknath Shinde, who has engineered the biggest revolt to hit Shiv Sena in over 15 years, has been a die-hard Sainik since the 1980s. Even as he raised the banner of revolt, he signalled his commitment to the Hindutva cause and paid tribute to his mentors with a tweet, "We are Balasaheb's staunch Shiv Sainiks... Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva...We will not compromise on the thoughts of Balasaheb and the teachings of Anand Dighe Saheb for power..."
What made Eknath Shinde turn against Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena minister and Thane strongman Eknath Shinde, who is leading a revolt against the leadership, never made his reservations about the MVA government public nor let his discontentment show in the last 2-3 years. However, insiders said he had spoken his mind with CM Uddhav Thackeray, expressing his frustration over the coalition's style of governance and its shortcomings.

Sena's key strategist tied up with ED queries on day his party needs him most
On a day the ruling Shiv Sena plunged into a political crisis amid defection fears, key party strategist Anil Parab spent Tuesday answering ED questions. This time, after a third summons, he did not ask for exemption and decided to record his statement. From 11.30am to 11pm, Parab was at the zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Ballard Pier. He was called for questioning again on Wednesday.
Quiet BJP action leaves Shiv Sena stunned
BJP MLA Girish Mahajan was stating the obvious when he said on Monday night, as BJP won five MLC seats in Maharashtra, that leaders of his party talk less and strategise more and hence it wins. After winning the five legislative council seats, opposition leader and ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis also declared outside the BJP state party headquarters that it was late (11. 30pm) and that the party would have a celebration on Tuesday morning.
Maharashtra govt on edge after Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde revolts
Immediately after two poll setbacks, the MVA government in Maharashtra plunged into a political crisis on Tuesday with a major revolt in Shiv Sena led by urban development minister Eknath Shinde, a powerful grassroots leader who has long felt sidelined. This is seen as one of the biggest rebellions in the history of the 56-year-old party and the first that CM Uddhav Thackeray is facing after the death of his father and party founder Bal Thackeray.

BJP plan: Talk less, strategize more, says Girish Mahajan
BJP MLA Girish Mahajan was stating the obvious when he said on Monday night, as the BJP won five MLC seats in Maharashtra, that leaders of his party talk less and strategise more and hence it wins. After winning the five legislative council seats, opposition leader and ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis also declared outside the BJP state party headquarters that it was late (11.30 pm) and that the party would have a celebration on Tuesday morning. There was no celebration on Tuesday morning, which BJP watchers say was clearly an indication that the party was already aware of what was coming.
Everything possible under Modi, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Maha crisis
CM Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday attacked BJP over the political developments in Maharashtra where a section of rebel Shiv Sainiks camping in Gujarat have posed a threat to state government. Gehlot said, “Everything is possible in the country under Modi. Crime, injustice, atrocities, oppression; everything is possible.” The CM said BJP leaders threaten through CBI, Income Tax and ED. Gehlot was speaking to the media in Delhi where the Congress is staging a satyagraha against the ED questioning party leader Rahul Gandhi.
Maharashtra government in crisis: How Eknath Shinde's rebellion unfolded
While Eknath Shinde’s rebellion took Shiv Sena and MVA by surprise, the rebellion was in the works for a few months, though the Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra MLC elections debacle was a trigger.
Maharashtra political crisis: Rebellion shakes ground beneath Sainiks’ feet
A bolt from the blue struck loyalist Shiv Sena workers as Tuesday’s rebellion led by Eknath Shinde caused the party to stare at loss of power in the state. The party has weathered similar storms in decades gone by when Chhagan Bhujbal, Ganesh Naik, Sanjay Nirupam, Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray jumped ship, but this crisis appears to rock the very moorings of its 56-year existence.
When Surat became epicentre of Maharashtra political tremor
The Diamond City emerged as the epicentre of the political tremor that rocked Maharashtra politics with rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and at least 30 party MLAs and some independent legislators checking into a luxury hotel on Magdalla Cross Road early Tuesday morning, leaving the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghaadi (MVA) government battling for survival. Amid the rapid political developments in Mumbai and Delhi, allegations flew thick and fast with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut accusing Gujarat police of using force against party MLAs and the BJP of trying to engineer the collapse of MVA government.
Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh 'roughed up' by fellow rebels in hotel
A rebel Shiv Sena MLA's hospitalisation after being allegedly roughed up by some of his colleagues at the Surat hotel they had checked into early on Tuesday added to the drama and intrigue of the political battle in Maharashtra playing out in neighbouring Gujarat.
BJP could try to destabilize Congress government, even in Chhattisgarh: CM Bhupesh Baghel
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday alleged that opposition leaders’ phones were being tapped, and accused the BJP-led Union government of trying to destabilize governments where the Congress is in power.
BJP’s 4th toppling bid after winning Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, losing Rajasthan