Shinde, MLAs to go to Assam on pilgrimage

MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAS who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership to form their own Shiv Sena, will soon revisit Guwahati’s famous Kamakhya Devi temple as a mark of gratitude for the formation of a new government in Maharashtra. A Shinde camp functionary described it as a "vachan purti (fulfilling a promise)" made before the Shinde-Fadnavis government was installed.
Shinde and the rebel MLAs camped in Guwahati in June this year after withdrawing support to the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) government. They later formed a coalition with the BJP, which took office in July.
Shinde camp sources said after Guwahati, the MLAs will also visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, but the dates for the Ayodhya trip are yet to be fixed.
A team of senior functionaries have already left to check on the arrangements in Guwahati and chalk out an itinerary for the CM and the MLAs. Family members of the MLAs are also likely to go on the trip.
Shinde is expected to meet Assam governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi and Assam director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta.