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Team Thackeray, Teetering, Holds Meet As Rebel Strength Grows: 10 Points

Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde, camping in BJP-ruled Assam with rebel MLAs, has demanded the Sena break its alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.

Team Thackeray, Teetering, Holds Meet As Rebel Strength Grows: 10 Points

Eknath Shinde with rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati. (PTI photo)

New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray put up a brave face at a meeting of his party on Friday as another Shiv Sena MLA joined the rebel camp in Guwahati which is already believed to have enough members to wrest control.

Here are the latest developments in this big political story:

  1. At a party meet, Uddhav Thackeray told party workers that the rebels were "trying to break" the party and added: "Why would I feel bad about those who have left?" "Without using the names of Shiv Sena and Thackeray, how will you move ahead," Mr Thackeray said, targeting the rebel MLAs who have deserted him.

  2. Earlier, the Shiv Sena sought the disqualification of four more MLAs in its fightback against the rebellion by Eknath Shinde. In all, the Sena has sought disqualification of 16 rebels who are holed up at a hotel in BJP-ruled Assam.

  3. Mr Shinde, at the centre of rebellion against Mr Thackeray, left the hotel reportedly for a visit to a temple in Guwahati. In an exclusive interview to NDTV earlier, he claimed the backing of more than 50 MLAs. "Nearly 40 of them are from the Shiv Sena," he said.

  4. Sena MLA Dilip Lande was the latest to join the rebels at the Guwahati hotel. The number of MLAs in the Eknath Shinde could cross 50 as more legislators are likely to reach Guwahati, sources inside said.

  5. Two Independent MLAs, part of Eknath Shinde camp, have called for the removal of Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwall, who is from Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The two MLAs - Mahesh Baldi and Vinod Agarwal - have referred to a Supreme Court order in a case from Arunachal Pradesh and have urged the Deputy Speaker not to adjudicate on the disqualification plea against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.

  6. The Deputy Speaker, meanwhile, has approved Shiv Sena's proposal to appoint MLA Ajay Chaudhary as Shiv Sena legislative party leader in the state Assembly. The Deputy Speaker is expected today to send notices to the rebel MLAs against whom disqualification pleas have been filed, party sources told NDTV.

  7. The rebel MLAs are preparing to move Supreme Court once notices are issued to them, sources have told NDTV. The Eknath Shinde camp is also expected to move the Election Commission staking claim for the party and the symbol, sources added.

  8. Earlier today, Sanjay Raut, the Sena's spokesperson, alleged that Maharashtra alliance leader Sharad Pawar had been threatened by a Union Minister. "He is the son of Maharashtra. They are threatening him. Modi ji, Amit Shah, have you heard? Your minister is threatening Sharad Pawar - do you support such threats? Maharashtra wants to know," said Mr Raut had said.

  9. Mr Raut also played down the show of strength projected by the Eknath Shinde camp. "Their numbers are only on the papers. Shiv Sena is a big ocean such waves come and go," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

  10. Mr Shinde, who has claimed that his faction is the "real Shiv Sena", has sent letters carrying signatures of 37 MLAs to state Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the legislature secretary to inform them about his appointment as the legislature party leader.



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