MLAs’ Lives Under Threat: The tussle between Uddhav Thackeray’s side and the rebels led by Minister Eknath Shinde intensified on Sunday.
As Eknath Shinde moved the Supreme Court against Shiv Sena’s move to disqualify him and 15 other rebel MLAs, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s team said they were ready for a legal battle.
Eknath Shinde today filed a separate petition in the Supreme Court, alleging “grave threat” to the lives of Shiv Sena MLAs supporting him. The petition also referred to party MP Sanjay Raut’s remark about “living corpses”.
In his petition filed in the Supreme Court yesterday, Eknath Shinde said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra has lost majority in the House as 38 out of 55 Shiv Sena MLAs withdrew their support to the alliance.
The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the rejection of the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narhari Jirwal. The rebels have sought a direction to Mr. Zirwal not to take any action on the disqualification petition, filed by the Shiv Sena last week, until the matter of his expulsion is decided.
MLAs’ Lives Under Threat: Enforcement Directorate today summons Sanjay Raut in a money laundering case. Mr Raut responded with the allegation that “it is a conspiracy to stop me”. Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena MP had said that his party is ready for a “street fight and a legal battle”.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has handed over the portfolios of the nine rebel ministers to other ministers, who are currently camping in Guwahati. “For ease of administration, portfolios of rebel ministers are being handed over to other ministers,” an official statement said.
Reports suggest that Eknath Shinde, who led the rebellion against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, spoke to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray twice and discussed the “recent political situation” in the state. Mr. Shinde’s supporters have organized a massive show of strength in Thane today.
MLAs’ Lives Under Threat: A group of citizens today filed a PIL or PIL in the Bombay High Court against Eknath Shinde and other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs for creating “political turmoil”. It urged the High Court to direct the rebel leaders to return to the state and resume their duties.
With the Center providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs, the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ today claimed that it is now clear that the BJP is “pulling the strings” amid the current political turmoil in Maharashtra.
Luxury hotel Radisson Blu Guwahati, where the rebel MLAs are hiding, has stopped accepting fresh booking requests till June 30. Sources say that members of the BJP youth wing have been kept in shifts to help with logistics throughout the day.
Shiv Sena sources on Monday claimed that at least 20 MLAs who were camping with Shinde are in touch with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Some of them are against the merger with the BJP.
