Maharashtra political crisis Highlights: Necessary for Shiv Sena to step out of unnatural alliance, says Eknath Shinde after Thackeray’s address

Eknath Shinde in a tweet said that to ensure the survival of Shiv Sena and its Sainiks, it is necessary to step out of this “unnatural” alliance (Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP).

“In the last two years under the MVA government, only the coalition partners benefitted while the Shiv Sainiks were left frustrated. While our allies gained strength the Shiv Sena and Sainiks were deliberately weakened. For ensuring the survival of the party and Sainiks, it is necessary to step out of this unnatural alliance. It is time to take a decision for the greater good of Maharashtra,” he wrote.

A meeting between Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar is currently underway.

In his address to the people of Maharashtra on Facebook, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday asked Eknath Shinde to come forward, while making an emotional appeal to the ‘rebel’ MLAs that he wants the numbers required to form the government to be acquired by love, not trickery. Read More

Breaking his silence after his government was pushed to the brink of collapse by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said he was ready to quit his post if the rebel MLAs tell him that they don’t want him to continue as CM. Read More

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde to address media at 7 pm

Will form govt again if I lose today, says Uddhav Thackeray

If any of my MLA says that they don't want me to be the chief minister, I am ready to resign. I am not someone who will fight for a chair: Uddhav

Uddhav Thackeray says he would have resigned if Eknath Shinde wanted him to. “Shinde should have spoken to me directly,” he added.

Uddhav Thackeray says if any rebel come up and demands my resignation, I am ready to step down. I am not hungry for power. Whatever you want to say, say it on my face.

Uddhav Thackeray hits out at Shiv Sena rebels, says have not abandoned Hindutva ideology

Shiv Sena and Hindutva two sides of the same coin, says Uddhav Thackeray. Defending allegations that this is no longer the Shiv Sena of Bal Thackeray, CM says he is taking forward Balasaheb's legacy.

Uddhav says he has tested COVID positive, adding that he will answer all questions today.

Sharad Pawar to meet CM Uddhav Thackeray after the latter's video address

An evening meeting called by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at his official residence Varsha in Mumbai stands cancelled, reports News18. It was scheduled to be held at 5 pm today.

The Shiv Sena has asked all its MLAs in Maharashtra, including the rebels accompanying dissident leader Eknath Shinde, to attend a legislature party meeting at 5 PM or face action under the anti-defection law.

Uddhav Thackeray will be addressing the public at 5 pm

Struggling to tide over the internecine crisis, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday asked all its MLAs in Maharashtra, including the rebels accompanying dissident leader Eknath Shinde, to attend a legislature party meeting here at 5 PM or face action under the anti-defection law.

Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu has written a letter and issued it to some Sena ministers, including the minister of state for Home Shambhuraj Desai who is currently staying with Shinde in Guwahati.

'The Shiv Sena has called for an urgent meeting today evening at 'Varsha' bungalow as there have been attempts to make the MVA government unstable. The details regarding the meeting have been shared with all the members (MLAs) on their registered e-mail address, Whatsapp and by way of SMS.

'You cannot remain absent to the meeting without providing a valid and sufficient reason. If you do not attend the meeting, it would be presumed that you have a clear intention of leaving the party. Hence, there will be action taken against you based on the provisions for preventing anti-defection,' the letter said. PTI

Born in 1964, Shinde hails from the Maratha community and is said to have left education early to make a living. His family, which originally belongs to Satara district, moved to Thane in the 70s. 

Shinde spent most of his childhood doing odd jobs, at places such as a beer brewery and fishery, apart from his stint as an auto-rickshaw driver to make ends meet. Read More  

In conversation with Times Now, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde claimed that he has support of 46 MLAs, including six ministers. He also said that no decision has been taken yet on the future course of action or forging an alliance with BJP.

State cabinet meeting begins. CM Uddhav Thackeray joins via video conferencing: CMO

I have talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray and he said that as of now there's no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra assembly: Kamal Nath

Senior NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said there have been no talks of mid-term elections yet. His comment comes shortly after Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut hinted in a tweet towards the dissolution of the state Assembly.

Congress Legislative Party meeting has begun. Cabinet ministers are going for a meeting. All our 44 MLAs are with us: Minister and party leader Balasaheb Thorat

Eknath Shinde needs the support of 37 MLAs – a two-third majority in his party – to split the party without facing disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut hints at dissolving state legislative assembly.

Shiv Sena has shifted 12 MLAs to St Regis hotel in Lower Parel, says newly appointed legislature party leader Ajay Choudhary. He added that no one allowed to meet them.

Aaditya Thackeray has dropped 'minister' from his Twitter bio. Reacting to this, Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant said: “Don’t know why he removed minister from profile. Might be out of frustration over what’s happening.”

Forty rebel MLAs, including 33 from Shiv Sena and seven Independents, signed a letter extending support to Eknath Shinde today. Reports suggest that they may write to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari seeking floor test in the state legislative assembly.

BJP’s Ramesh Saini wins Mahendragarh municipal committee.

BJP’s Ashish Chakrapani wins president’s election of Pehowa.

BJP’s Zile Singh Saini wins president’s post of Jhajjar municipal council.

BJP directs its MLAs to stay put and not travel to foreign countries as their presence will be required in Mumbai, reports The Indian Express.

Sanjay Raut reiterates that the MVA will survive the rebellion, adding that Eknath Shinde will remain a Shiv Sainik.

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday said the party should renew ties with the BJP, as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government faces a crisis following a revolt by a section of Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde.

Sarnaik, the MLA from Thane's Ovala-Majiwada constituency, has been facing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. He had last year written a letter to Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, saying the party should team up with the BJP to save its leaders from action by central agencies.

A Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister, who is among the dissidents led by party leader Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday said they do not have any complaints against the Sena leadership, but they have been upset with the style of function of the NCP and Congress, the other two ruling alliance partners in the state.

Speaking to a TV channel over phone, Maharashtra minister Sandipan Bhumare, who is among the dissidents, said, “We do not have any complaints against the Shiv Sena leadership. We have raised our complaints with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, that it was getting difficult to work with the NCP and Congress ministers. It was very difficult for us to get our proposals and work requests approved from their ministers.” To a query, Bhumare said he was given a cabinet portfolio and was satisfied with it.

“What else do I need in life. But, as a people's representative, I need to address the grievances of my people. I could not do it properly because of these two alliance partners,” he added.

Meanwhile, another dissident Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsath told a TV channel that 35 party legislators were in Guwahati.

“A couple of more MLAs will join us by today evening. We also have the support of three independent MLAs,” he claimed. Shirsath also targeted state NCP and Congress ministers and claimed their “hostile behaviour” forced the Sena legislators to revolt. PTI

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called a Cabinet meeting at 1 pm today.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who played a crucial role in the formation of the MVA government, said it will complete its full five-year term, in New Delhi on Tuesday. He ruled out going with BJP, in case the state government falls.