Maharashtra: Amid flux, Shinde camp tally crosses anti-defection mark

MUMBAI: While many say Sena leader Eknath Shinde’s uprising was in the works for the last few weeks if not months, the cross voting by MLAs during the Rajya Sabha and MLC polls precipitated the developments that took the rebels to Surat and then Guwahati.
Shinde accompanied by a few legislators had made a sudden trip to Upvan following last week’s MLC polls where they finalised their move before leaving for Surat, close confidantes and party colleagues of Shinde said.
“Soon after voting for the MLC polls was over, Shinde arrived with a few MLAs in Thane and they had some discussions, following which they decided to express their dissent and left for Surat. A few close Shinde associates were apprised about the plans at the last minute before they were asked to accompany him to oversee travel and stay arrangements and ensure the MLAs were taken good care of,” said a functionary.
From Surat to Guwahati, their numbers have swelled. Over the last two days, there has been a flux, some MLAs switching from one camp to the other after reconsidering their options. Some like Nitin Deshmukh and Kailash Patil returned to Mumbai and alleged that they were forcefully taken to Surat or Guwahati.
On Thursday morning, Sena MLAs Deepak Kesarkar, Sada Sarvankar and Aashish Jaiswal reached Radisson Blu in Guwahati and were welcomed by Shinde and other rebel legislators. But Kesarkar reportedly left the hotel later. On Thursday, the Shinde camp released a picture of 42 MLAs present in Guwahati, making it evident which side the overwhelming majority is on.
The 2/3majority of 37 (out of 55) needed to avoid disqualification under anti-defection law looks like it has been met.