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Maharashtra political crisis: We've backing of national party, Eknath Shinde tells rebel MLAs

Maharashtra political crisis live updates: Trouble has mounted for Uddhav Thackeray as more MLAs from his state have joined rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde in Guwahati.

Maharashtra political crisis live updates
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Maharashtra political crisis live updates: Trouble mounted for Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray as more MLAs from his state arrived today (June 23) in Assam's Guwahati to join the rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other legislators.  Amid the political crisis in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, Shinde had claimed the support of 46 legislators, including some Independents on Wednesday. He had also given a letter to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly's deputy speaker, signed by 35 Sena MLAs, replacing Sunil Prabhu with Bharat Gogavale as the chief whip of the Shiv Sena legislature party. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, extended his support to Uddhav Thackeray and blamed BJP - without directly naming them - for the crisis in Maharashtra.

Thank you for staying with Zee News for all the latest news updates on Maharashtra's political crisis.

23 June 2022
21:45 PM

Eknath Shinde, who was on Thursday elected leader by rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, made a veiled reference to BJP and said ‘a big national party’ has told him that his decision was ‘historic’ and they will be present whenever he needs them.

21:18 PM

"There are many good hotels in Assam, anyone can come there and stay...there is no issue with it. I don't know if Maharashtra MLAs are staying in Assam. MLAs of other states can also come and stay in Assam", says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

21:18 PM

Uddhav Thackeray's close aide, who was sent as emissary to Surat, joins rebel MLAs' faction.

18:12 PM

MVA decided to back CM Uddhav Thackeray. I believe once the (Shiv Sena) MLAs return to Mumbai the situation will change, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai.

16:36 PM

"The doors are still open for talks...Discussions can lead the way," tweets Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

16:36 PM

"Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is a government established for the development and welfare of Maharashtra. We will stand firmly with Uddhavji Thackeray till the end," tweets NCP leader Jayant Patil.

15:21 PM

Congress has called a meeting of its leaders at Sahyadri guest house in Mumbai at 4 pm today. Senior Congress leaders, including HK Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole and Ashok Chavan will attend the meeting.

 

14:55 PM

Shiv Sena ready to exit out of MVA if this is the will of all rebel MLAs: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has made another big statement and has said that his party is "ready to exit out of MVA" if this is the will of rebel MLAs, who are camping with Eknath Shinde in Guwahati. 

"MLAs should not communicate from Guwahati, they should come back to Mumbai and discuss all this with CM. We are ready to consider exiting out of MVA if this is the will of all MLAs, but for that, they have to come here & discuss it with the CM," Raut was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

14:42 PM

21 Maha MLAs in Guwahati have contacted us, they will be with us: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut

Amid political turmoil in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut makes a big statement. Raut has said that 21 Maharashtra MLAs, who are camping with rebel cabinet minister Eknath Shinde in Guwahati, will be with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena when they return to Mumbai.

14:11 PM

Maharashtra political crisis: 'Only Eknath Shinde heard us out', Rebel Shiv Sena MLA writes to Uddhav Thackeray

Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat has written a letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and has claimed that state minister Eknath Shinde took the step of going against the party leadership as Sena MLAs, who faced "humilitation" for the last two-and-a-half years, persuaded him to do so.

Shirsat, the MLA from Aurangabad (West) Assembly constituency, also said that Eknath Shinde opened doors for the party MLAs to hear their grievances, issues about development work in their constituencies and related fund, and problems with allies Congress and NCP.

''Only Shinde heard us out and took steps to resolve all the problems. The party MLAs persuaded Shinde to take this step (of revolt) for the rights of all the legislators," Shirsat wrote in the letter.

Shirsat also said the party MLAs were not allowed to accompany Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray (the CM's son) to Ayodhya (during his recent visit).

''The Shiv Sena votes did not split in the Rajya Sabha polls, then why so much distrust in us for the Legislative Council polls?" he asked. 

14:10 PM

42 rebel MLAs from Maharashtra, including 35 from Shiv Sena, seen together at hotel in Guwahati

13:15 PM

'We were insulted', Eknath Shinde's rebel camp says 'they were stopped from meeting Uddhav Thackeray'

"Despite having a Shiv Sena CM (Uddhav Thackeray) in the state, the party MLAs didn't use to get the opportunity to visit Varsha Bungalow (CM's official residence). People around the CM used to decide if we can meet him or not. We felt we were insulted," Eknath Shinde shares rebel Shiv Sena MLA's letter.

"CM never used to be in the Secretariat, instead, he used to be in Matoshree (Thackeray residence). We used to call people around the CM but they never used to attend our calls. We were fed up with all these things & persuaded Eknath Shinde to take this step," the letter dated June 22, 2022, said.

12:40 PM

Maharashtra crisis: Govt on dialysis does not last long, BJP takes a jibe at Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA govt

Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has taken a jibe at the political crisis in Maharashtra where the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government is fighting for its survival and said that dummy cars and a "government on dialysis" do not last long.

Responding to a question on what would happen in Maharashtra, he recited a couplet from the famous "Mughal-e-Azam" song, "Jab raat hai aisi matwali to subah ka alam kya hoga."

"Dummy cars and a government on dialysis do not last long," the BJP leader added.

12:37 PM

Maharashtra CM's post is Shiv Sena's decision: NCP amid political instability in MVA govt

"Chief Ministerial post has been given to Shiv Sena, it's their internal decision whom they want to give it to," NCP's Jayant Patil has said amid political instability in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra.

He has also said that he has invited all NCP MLAs for a meeting at 5 pm today to brief them on the ongoing developments.

12:36 PM

Maharashtra political crisis live updates: BJP leaders arrive at Devendra Fadnavis' residence

12:32 PM

Maharashtra political crisis: NCP chief Sharad Pawar holds party meeting; Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Dilip Patil attend

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has held a party meeting amid political instability in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra. The meeting took place at his residence and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, ministers Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad and party leader Sunil Tatkare were among those who were present at the meeting.

11:19 AM

WATCH: Eknath Shinde receiving Maharashtra MLAs at Guwahati hotel this morning

11:17 AM

TMC Assam President Ripun Bora leads protest outside Guwahati hotel where Maharashtra MLAs are camping

TMC Assam President Ripun Bora is leading a protest outside the Guwahati hotel where the Maharashtra MLAs are putting up. They are protesting against the Assam government hosting the MLAs amidst severe floods. Mamata Banerjee's TMC members and workers are currently sitting outside the hotel. 

11:07 AM

Maharashtra political crisis live updates: We're true Balasaheb Bhakts, says Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut

"He who leaves the party under ED pressure is not a true Balasaheb Bhakt. We're true Balasaheb Bhakts...even we're under ED pressure but we will continue to stand with Uddhav Thackeray...When the floor test happens everyone will see who's positive and who is negative," Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut told reporters amid Maharashtra political crisis.

11:06 AM

Maharashtra crisis live updates: MLAs camping in Guwahati meet Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar

10:14 AM

Party 'still strong', says Sanjay Raut after more MLAs join Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde's camp

"I won't talk about any camp, I will talk about my party. Our party is strong even to this day...About 20 MLAs are in touch with us...when they come to Mumbai, you will get to know...will soon be revealed, in what circumstances, pressure these MLAs left us, "Shiv Sena senior leader Sanjay Raut said on more Maharashtra MLAs joining Eknath Shinde's camp.

10:04 AM

As Maharashtra political crisis intensifies, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil meets Sharad Pawar

With cabinet minister Eknath Shinde's revolt showing no signs of ebbing, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil has gone to meet Sharad Pawar. The meeting between the two NCP leaders is reportedly being held at Pawar's residence in Mumbai.

10:00 AM

Maharashtra crisis live updates: Trouble mounts for CM Uddhav Thackeray

Amid the ongoing political crisis in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, three more Shiv Sena MLAs have joined the cabinet minister Eknath Shinde-led rebel camp in Guwahati. The three leaders - Deepak Kesakar (MLA from Sawantwadi), Mangesh Kudalkar (Chembur) and Sada Sarvankar (Dadar) - took a morning flight from Mumbai and reached the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, where Shinde and fellow leaders have camped.

09:03 AM

08:31 AM

Maharashtra political crisis live updates: Three more MLAs join Eknath Shinde in Guwahati

Three more MLAs from Maharashtra have arrived today in Assam's Guwahati to join the rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other legislators, the news agency ANI reported.

The development comes hours after four MLAs - Chandrakant Patil, Yogesh Kadam, Manjula Gavit and Gulabrao Patil - also arrived at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, where Shinde and fellow leaders have camped.

07:49 AM

Four more MLAs join rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde in Guwahati

Four more MLAs have now joined rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde in Guwahati. They reached Assam last night and met Shinde at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati.

07:04 AM

Amid political crisis, Maharashtra number game explained

While the Shiv Sena currently has 55 MLAs, the Sharad Pawar's NCP has 53, and the Congress has 44 MLAs. All three constitute the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which was formed by Shiv Sena after it broke ties with the BJP post-Assembly polls in 2019.

The opposition BJP has 106 seats in the Assembly. To escape a disqualification under the anti-defection law, Shiv Sena revel leader Eknath Shinde needs the support of 37 MLAs. Shinde, however, has claimed that 46 Sena MLAs are with him.

06:53 AM

Shiv Sena faces 4th rebellion in 56 years, 1st under Uddhav Thackeray's watch

Despite being a party of committed cadres with unflinching loyalty to the leadership of the day, the Shiv Sena party has been vulnerable to rebellions in its ranks. With Eknath Shinde becoming the latest leader to join the list, Shiv Sena has seen revolts by prominent figures on four occasions, three of them under the watch of its founder Bal Thackeray.

The rebellion by Shinde, a Cabinet minister who has walked away with a bunch of Shiv Sena MLAs, is most significant in the outfit's 56-year-old history as it threatens to bring down the party-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, while the other revolts took place when it was not in power in the state.

The present revolt, which started taking shape post-Monday midnight after Legislative Council poll results, has thrown a big challenge before Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

06:50 AM

BJP likely to hold a meeting of all its MLAs amid Maharashtra political crisis

Amidst, Maharashtra political crisis, the BJP is likely to hold a meeting of all its MLAs to decide on the next course of action. It is also learnt that to prevent horse-trading and poaching, the saffron party is also keen to keep its flock of 106 MLAs and other non-BJP legislators together at a safe location.

06:47 AM

Maharashtra politics: Eyeing govt formation, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis likely to reach out to Governor today

Amid the current political turmoil in Maharashtra, the BJP, led by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, may stake claim to form a government in the state, several media reports claimed. According to reports, Fadnavis is likely to reach out to Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and hand him over the list of its MLAs and apprise the latter of the possible assurance of support the party has received from the independent and non-BJP MLAs.

06:44 AM

Maharashtra politics live updates: Complaint filed against Uddhav Thackeray

Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga on Wednesday night filed a complaint against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly violating Covid-19 related protocols by meeting his supporters while heading to his personal residence from his official house in Mumbai. Amid the ongoing Maharashtra political crisis triggered by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Thackeray moved out of 'Varsha', his official residence in south Mumbai, to 'Matoshree' his family home in suburban Bandra, at night - hours after offering to quit the top post.  Party workers could be seen raising slogans and showering petals on the chief minister as he left his official house along with his family members

The complaint, which was made available on Twitter and retweeted by Bagga himself, said that as per the news, CM Thackeray has tested positive for Covid-19, and according to the protocols, such a patient cannot meet anyone and should remain in isolation.

"But Thackeray was seen meeting his supporters and thereby violating the Covid-19 protocol," the complaint said.