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.
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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.
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"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.
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"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.
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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"Ready to quit even as Shiv Sena chief; let those disgruntled MLAs come forward and demand so," Uddhav Thackeray said.
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"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.
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"I don't want to elaborate on what we did for Hindutva... but I was the first CM who spoke about Hindutva in Vidhan Bhawan," Thackeray said.
"Some people say that it's not Balasaheb's Shiv Sena. They should tell what were the thoughts of Bala Saheb. This is the same Shiv Sena that it was at his time 'Hindutva' is our life," he added.
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"Will quit as chief minister and leave official residence if even one of the disgruntled MLAs says he doesn't want me as CM," Uddhav Thackeray said.
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"Some people say that it's not Balasaheb's Shiv Sena. They should tell what were the thoughts of Bala Saheb. This is the same Shiv Sena that it was at his time 'Hindutva' is our life," Thackeray said.
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"Getting calls from MLAs who have gone with Eknath Shinde; they are claiming that they were forcibly taken away," Thackeray said. Over 30 MLAs of his party are reportedly in Guwahati, in BJP-ruledAssam, along with Shinde.
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"It's true that I could not meet people in the last few months due to my surgery and health condition. But now, I have started meeting people," Uddhav Thackeray said.
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"Shiv Sena will never leave Hindutva," Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, while addressing the public via Facebook. "We will be with Hindutva in terms of ideology and in terms of identity".
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Rebel Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in Guwahati along with the MLAs who are supporting him, will address the media at 7 pm, News18 reported.
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Uddhav Thackeray's address to public via Facebook will begin shortly. The address was earlier scheduled at 5 pm, but has been delayed.His meeting with MLAs, which was earlier scheduled at 5 pm, has been cancelled, reports said.
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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at 6 pm, News18 reported, citing sources.
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Hours after a group of Maharashtra MLAs led by dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde reached Assam and were put up in a luxury hotel, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that he welcomes all to visit Assam as the state needs revenue to deal with the devastating flood. He also said, without elaborating, that he will be happy if Assam becomes an "international political epicentre".
To a question, he said, "Why should there be a reason for any controversy regarding their visit? We welcome all tourists to visit the state now as we need funds to deal with the floods." Asked whether he will meet the dissident MLAs from Maharashtra, Sarma said that there is no need for him to do that. (PTI)
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Amid the ongoing political row in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will address the public live via Facebook at 5 pm. Earlier in the day, he chaired a state cabinet meeting virtually after testing positive for COVID-19.
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A total of 34 MLAs, including those belonging to the Shiv Sena as well as independents,have backed Shiv Senarebel Eknath Shinde in a letter written to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, reports said.
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"There was no point in holding political discussions because the situation is completely under control. CM (who joined via VC) had a smile on his face. You can understand he's not tensed, so Govt is not tensed either,"said Maharashtra Minister andCongress leader Nitin Rautfollowing the statecabinet meeting.
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"Kaziranga is a good place to visit. The area is also receiving good rainfall. Those who want to see nature can go there,"Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rautwas quoted as saying by ANI, on being asked about his partyMLAs camping in Guwahati.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Cabinet issues and agenda were discussed. No political discussions were held here, says Aslam Shaikh, Maharashtra minister and Congress leader
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates
: No difficulties, everything will be alright. Govt will continue. "No. No discussion is needed," on if political crisis was discussed in cabinet meet, says Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: BJP MLA accompanying Eknath Shinde in Guwahati, claims Maharashtra minister
A minister from Maharashtra accompanying Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde and others on Wednesday claimed a BJP MLA has been staying with them in Guwahati. The minister of state for water resources and Prahar Janshakti Paksh leader, Bacchu Kadu, told a news channel over the phone that BJP MLA Sanjay Kute is staying with the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena and Shinde.
"BJP's Sanjay Kute is with us. He is accompanying all the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena and some Independents in Guwahati," he said. A day earlier, Kute had met Shinde and other rebel MLAs in a Surat hotel where they were staying after sneaking out of Mumbai. Senior Sena leader and state cabinet minister Shinde along with a group of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were flown to Guwahati from Surat in the early hours of Wednesday. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat claimed that 40 MLAs are with Shinde and their number will go up to 46 by later afternoon.
Shirsat, who is also accompanying Shinde, represents the Aurangabad (West) constituency. "There are 35 MLAs of Shiv Sena and five Independent with us here (in Guwahati). This number will go up to 46 this afternoon. Of them, 40 will be of Shiv Sena (an addition of five MLAs). I cannot tell from which region of Maharashtra they are, I don't have that authority," he told a Marathi news channel.
He said rebel Sena MLAs are not angry with the party leadership but their grouse is against other MVA allies, the Congress and the NCP. When asked why the disgruntled Sena MLAs waited for two-and-a-half years before rebelling, Shirsat referred to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ill-health of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Sena Chief Whip, Sunil Prabhu issues letter to all party MLAs, asking them to be present in an important meeting that will be held today evening
Shiv Sena's Chief Whip, Sunil Prabhu issues a letter to all party MLAs, asking them to be present in an important meeting that will be held today evening. Letter states that if someone remains absent, it'll be considered that the said MLA has decided to quit the party voluntarily. The letter also warns that if someone remains absent from the meeting without proper reason and prior information, they should keep in mind that action will be initiated to cancel their membership as per constitutional provisions
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Sanjay Raut says unless the MLAs are back in Mumbai, no decision will be made
I'm going to Varsha Bungalow. I'll meet CM but whatever has to be done will be decided by Maha Vikas Aghadi together. Unless the MLAs are back in Mumbai, no decision will be made, says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut when asked about speculations that Uddhav Thackeray will resign as CM
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Congress and NCP will extend full support to MVA government. Sharad Pawar said NCP will continue supporting MVA, says Kamal Nath
Congress and NCP will extend full support to MVA government. I also had a word with Sharad Pawar Ji who told me that NCP will continue supporting MVA...no other intent. I'm sure Shiv Sena rebels will not taint the state of Shivaji Maharaj, says Maharashtra Congress observer Kamal Nath.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Sanjay Raut says when such situation forms in any state, Vidhan Sabha is dissolved. Attempts being made to kidnap MLAs & take them outside.
When such a situation forms in any state, Vidhan Sabha is dissolved. Attempts being made to kidnap MLAs & take them outside. You would have heard MLA Nitin Deshmukh, how was he thrashed, wrongfully hospitalised, teated & injected. He says it was an attempt to murder him, says Sanjay Raut
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: State cabinet meeting concludes, NCP Ministers leave from the venue.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Kamal Nath says 41 MLAs out of 44 MLAs attended the meeting, unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Udhhav Thackeray
41 MLAs out of 44 MLAs attended the meeting here while 3 are on the way. The politics BJP has started is of money & muscle power which is against the constitution. I have seen this a lot...Unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Udhhav Thackeray, saysCongress leader Kamal Nath
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Sanjay Rauts hints at dissolution of Assembly
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday indicated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray could recommend to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to dissolve the state Assembly, as the crisis for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government deepened. "The political developments in Maharashtra are headed towards dissolution of the state Assembly," Raut said.
Shiv Sena's dissident leader Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted that 40 MLAs from Maharashtra have accompanied him to Guwahati in Assam. The Shiv Sena legislators have rebelled against the party, plunging the tripartite MVA government, comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress, into a crisis. Earlier, the MLAs were taken to Surat in Gujarat from Mumbai on Tuesday, and the decision to shift them to Guwahati was taken on security grounds, according to another BJP source.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: State cabinet meeting begins. CM Uddhav Thackeray joins via video conferencing, says CMO
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray, and he said no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra Assembly, says Kamal Nath
I have talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray and he said that as of now there's no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra Assembly: Congress leader Kamal Nath
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Maharashtra Congress leaders show a victory sign as a string of meetings take place by the three parties of the MVA Government, amid the ongoing Maharashtra Political Crisis
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray tests positive for Covid-19
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.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray tests COVID-19 positive
Maharashtra Chief MinisterUddhavThackeray tested COVID-19 positive, says Kamal Nath
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Kamal Nath says 41 MLAs out of 44 MLAs attended the meeting, unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Udhhav Thackeray
41 MLAs out of 44 MLAs attended the meeting here while 3 are on the way. The politics BJP has started is of money & muscle power which is against the constitution. I have seen this a lot...Unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Udhhav Thackeray, saysCongress leader Kamal Nath
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: All our 44 MLAs are with us, says Minister and party leader Balasaheb Thorat
Congress Legislative Party meeting has begun. Cabinet ministers are going for a meeting. All our 44 MLAs are with us, says Minister and party leader Balasaheb Thorat
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Uddhav Thackeray govt in trouble? Here’s how the numbers stack up in Maharashtra Assembly
Rebel leader Eknath Shinde, who has claimed to be a staunch Shiv Sainik, would need at least 36 MLAs to go along with him if he wants to split the Shiv Sena without attracting disqualification under the anti-defection law. As per the rules, if the rebel group wants to merge with BJP, at least 37 MLAs (two-thirds of Shiv Sena’s 55) have to come together to ensure they do not face disqualification. If that happens, the MVA government will fall.
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Democracy is diminishing in country in name of Hindutva, PM Modi and Amit Shah must run the country as per constitution, says Ashok Gehlot
Democracy is diminishing in country in name of Hindutva, people aren't understanding now but they'll regret later. These people (BJP) are doing horse-trading & bringing down the govts while law & order situation remains fragile & economy weakens. They've made a joke of everything. They were hatching conspiracy & were targetting Maharashtra from the very beginning but now it has come to light. PM Modi and Amit Shah should not be arrogant & must run the country as per the constitution, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Midterm elections? There have been no talks yet. What can I say?, says NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Uddhav Thackeray is likely resign from the post of CM today: Sources
Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Discussions with Eknath Shinde positive, says Sanjay Raut
Even as rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde along with some party MLAs have moved to Guwahati in Assam, Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said he has been holding discussions with Shinde and the talks are "positive". Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said Shinde has not put forth any conditions before the party, and that discussions are also underway with other Sena leaders who are with Shinde.
Raut expressed confidence that Shinde and other rebel MLAs will be back into the party fold, and said their misunderstandings will be addressed. It is difficult for him (Shinde) to leave the party and it will be difficult for us (the Sena) to leave him. Our dialogue is on. We spoke for an hour in the morning. Talks are also on with the MLAs who are with Shinde, Raut said. It is difficult for him (Shinde) to leave the party and it will be difficult for us (the Sena) to leave him.
Our talks with him are taking place in a cordial manner and they have been positive, the Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson said. Asked about the rebel MLAs moving to Guwahati, Raut said Let them go. Guwahati has a nice forest (nearby)Kaziranga (national park). The MLAs should see the country, this will help them understand it. Raut said Shinde has not put forth any terms and conditions before the party. He is a Shiv Sainik and it appears that he will stay in the Shiv Sena and spend his life in the party, Raut said, adding that there in no bitterness between the two sides. Shinde and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray share a strong bond, he said. Raut said Thackeray will also talk to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of the state's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi.
