The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena legislators, who had arrived at Vidhan Bhavan on Sunday to participate in the special session, were surprised after they found that the party’s office was situated on the second floor was sealed. They were unable to understand whether the office was closed for make-over or was done to maintain the legislature party’s claim on it especially after the 39 MLAs revolted and joined hands with the BJP to form the government in Maharashtra. The officers and security personnel at the Vidhan Bhavan fear that the ongoing tussle between two groups of one party may further escalate over taking control of the office.
Some of the legislators had to pass the time in the Vidhan Bhavan canteen or in the various chambers which are vacant as they have to be allocated for the ministers after the cabinet expansion. Interestingly, few others approached the senior leaders to inquire about the reason for the closure of the office. ‘’The office has been closed as per the communication by the Shiv Sena Legislature Party,’’ the board displayed on the door reads. Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is now left with 16 legislators as 39 legislators have defected but not yet formed a separate group or merged with any party.
A senior Shiv Sena legislator told the Free Press Journal,’’ Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena is the real Legislature Party and not the one led by rebel leader Eknath Shinde. The Legislature Party leader Ajay Chaudhari and chief whip Sunil Prabhu requested the legislature secretariat to seal it as the Shinde camp may stake a claim on it. Already the Shinde camp has started taking control of Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s offices and properties in various parts of the state. To avoid such an attempt, the office was closed by the legislature secretariat.’’
Another legislature said that the Shinde camp cannot break open the office and enter it as it may lead to legal issues
