Eknath Shinde Makes A Statement With A Photo Op:
Video from Guwahati shows MLAs gathering in a hall for a photo-shoot, meant as a preview of the test of strength that may unfold in Maharashtra’s power struggle.
Eknath Shinde Photo Op: Visuals today showed 41 MLAs posing with Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde at a hotel in Guwahati, a show of strength that suggests it is play on Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Video from Guwahati shows MLAs gathering in a hall for a photo-shoot, meant as a preview of the test of strength that may unfold in Maharashtra’s power struggle.
The MLA, arranged in three rows, checks out Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, the former auto-rickshaw driver who is today the most powerful figure in the Shiv Sena and the party founded by Bal Thackeray. The MLAs raised slogans for Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde and Bal Thackeray but did not mention Uddhav Thackeray at all.
The scenes show Eknath Shinde addressing the MLAs at one point.
Eknath Shinde Photo Op: The rebel group began their journey on Monday night, when they flew from Mumbai to Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat. He went incommunicado and refused to talk to Team Thackeray for hours. On Tuesday night, he was taken to Guwahati, another BJP-ruled state of Assam, and has been at the Radisson Blu Hotel ever since. Their numbers have been rising for the past two days and Mr Shinde seems to have enough MLAs to split the party without being disqualified under the anti-defection law.
Uddhav Thackeray, who left his official home yesterday but stopped resigning as chief minister, fell silent again after his emotional appeal to the rebels failed. After his speech, three more MLAs left for Guwahati.
Today only 13 MLAs were present in their meeting.
