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Maharashtra Political Crisis Highlights: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray tested positive for Covid-19 on June 22 amidst political turmoil in the state. The Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra is facing a crisis following rebellion from a group of MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was admitted to a private hospital in south Mumbai after testing coronavirus positive.
Eknath Shinde, the leader of rebellion in ruling Shiv Sena on Wednesday claimed he has 40 MLAs with him. Shinde, who arrived at the Guwahati airport, spoke to reporters for the first time since his decision to rebel against his own party.
On late Monday night, Shinde had left Mumbai with several Sena MLAs and stayed at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city. However, after holding talks with BJP leaders, he decided to shift to Guwahati.
Speaking to reporters outside Guwahati airport, Shinde said, Here 40 MLAs are with me. Additional 10 MLAs will join me soon. I do not want to criticise any one. We are keen on continuing the Sena founded by late Balasaheb Thackeray, he said.
Shiv sena has 56 MLAs in Maharashtra legislative assembly which has joined hands with NCP and Congress post 2019 assembly polls and formed government, breaking its alliance with the BJP.
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Two more Shiv Sena MLAs - Sada Sarvankar from Mahimassembly seatand Mangesh Kudalkar from Kurla constituency - have left for Surat, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.
Maharashtra Chief MinisterUddhavThackeray has left his official residence 'Varsha' and has returned to 'Matoshree', the ancestral house of the Thackeray family in Mumbai. This comes shortly after Thackeray, in a live webcast, said he is "ready to resign" if any disgruntled MLA comes forwardand demands his resignation.
"Uddhav Thackeray is Maharashtra chief minister and he will remain the CM," senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, shortly after Thackeray claimed in a live webcast that he is ready to resign. "If we get the chance, we will prove our majority on the floor of the House," Raut added.
"It's essential to get out of the unnatural alliance for the survival of the party," tweets rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde. His response came shortly after Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said he is ready to resign as the chief minister if it can be assures that another Shiv Sainik will take over the reigns.
NCPchiefSharadPawarand Congress leaders havesuggested Chief MinisterUddhavThackeray to hand over the reigns to rebel ShivSenaleaderEknathShindeas a "compromise", sources in the Congress said. They added thatat least 17MLAsfrom ShivSenaareready to come back to Mumbai fromGuwahati.
"No Shiv Sena MLA in touch with us. We haven't spoken to Eknath Shinde. This is Shiv Sena's internal matter. BJP has nothing to do with this. We're not staking claim to form government,"BJP leader Raosaheb Patil Danve told news agency ANI.
The meeting between Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and Supriya Sule concludes at the CM's residence in Mumbai, news agency ANI reported.
Shiv Sena MP Bhavana Gawli writes to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, appealing to him to "consider the demands of revolting MLAs in favour of Hindutva". She also urged Thackeray tonot to take action against the rebelMLAs.
"CM posts will come and go but the real asset is the affection of the people. In the past twoyears, I was fortunate enough to get a lot of affection from people," Thackeray said, as he concluded his Facebook live address.
"Ready to quit even as Shiv Sena chief; let those disgruntled MLAs come forward and demand so," Uddhav Thackeray said.
"I have kept letter of my resignation as chief minister ready; willing to resign as CM this very moment," Thackeray said.
"When my own people (MLAs) don't want me what I can say. If they had something against me, what was the need of saying all this in Surat, they could have come here and said this to my face."
"If you (rebel MLAs) want me to resign, I will but can you assure me that the next CM will be a Shiv Sainik?" he further added.
