Shiv Sena workers pledge loyalty to Uddhav on notarised bond papers amid BJP claims of 12 MPs in touch with Shinde camp

AURANGABAD: Shiv Sena workers and office-bearers in Aurangabad have started committing their loyalty to party president Uddhav Thackeray by signing bond papers and getting them notarized.

A local leader said on Monday that they launched this drive "spontaneously" in view of the rebellion by Eknath Shinde and other MLAs against the Sena leadership.

The Sena workers are pledging their loyalty to Uddhav Thackeray on bond papers, each valued Rs 100, and getting them notarized.

"We have prepared more than 100 notarised bond papers in the Narli Baugh area of Aurangabad city. The party has not ordered us to do this but we are doing it spontaneously. We will hand over these bond papers to Shiv Sena," Jaywant Oak, Aurangabad district deputy president, told PTI.

Aurangabad city unit of Shiv Sena met Uddhav Thackeray at his private residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai.

"Shiv Sena cadres in Aurangabad along with senior leaders have extended their support to Uddhav Thackeray," said Aurangabad city Shiv Sena president Balasaheb Thorat.

Shinde was sworn in as the chief minister on June 30 with Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy CM, after the Thackeray-led MVA government collapsed last month.

Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raosaheb Danve on Monday claimed 12 MPs of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena are in touch with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction and are ready to cross over.

Speaking to reporters here in Maharashtra, Danve also said Shiv Sena might support National Democratic Alliance (NDA's) Presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu given that she is tribal.

"12 MPs of Shiv Sena are ready to leave the party and are on the verge of joining the Eknath Shinde camp," the Jalna MP said.

The Shiv Sena has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Danve also said the Shinde faction is the true Shiv Sena as he has the support of two-thirds of total (55) MLAs.

"I am confident that the Supreme Court and the Election Commission will rule in favour of the Shinde faction," he said when asked about which faction will be allotted the Shiv Sene'a bow and arrow poll symbol.

In a relief to Shiv Sena MLAs of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, the Supreme Court on Monday asked newly-elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar not to proceed with the plea seeking their disqualification which was sought by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's group on the ground of defying party whip during the trust vote and the election of the speaker.

Queried on whether MLAs and MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray camp will support Murmu in the Presidential election, Danve said he thinks so.

"If Uddhav Thackeray supports the NDA candidate, I will welcome such a decision. I feel Sena might support Murmu as she hails from a tribal community. A large number of Adivasis live in our country, and this is for the first time that a tribal will become the President of India," he added.

Earlier in the day, 13 Lok Sabha MPs of the Shiv Sena physically attended a key meeting held at Uddhav's private residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai on the presidential elections and a majority of them suggested supporting Murmu.