Eknath Shide, 26 Maharashtra MLAs camp at resort, Sena says BJP trying to topple govt

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, June 21, 2022: The crisis in Maharashtra was sparked by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and 26 Maharashtra MLAs going incommunicado. It has been learnt that the leaders are camping at a luxury hotel in Surat since the Maharashtra MLC poll results were declared on Monday. This development has fuelled speculation of a rebellion within the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.

 

The opposition BJP came out on top in the MLC election results, a development believed to be a result of cross-voting by certain MLAs of the ruling government.

26 MLAs CAMPING IN HOTEL

As many as 26 Shiv Sena MLAs are rumoured to be with Eknath Shinde at a Gujarat resort. The ‘missing’ Shiv Sena MLAs are believed to be at a hotel in Surat, Gujarat, a BJP-ruled state.

The MLAs include: Tanaji Sawant, Balaji Kalyankar, Prakash Anandrao Abitkar, Abdul Sattar Abdul Navi, Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, Sanjay Pandurang Shirsat, Srinivas Chintaman Onega, Mahesh Sambhaji Raje Shinde, Sanjay Bhaskar Rao Raimulkar, Vishwanath Atmaram Bhuir, Sandipan Rao Bhumre, Shantaram Tukaram More, Ramesh Nanasaheb Bornare, Anil Babar, Chinmanrao Ropchand Patil, Shambhuraj Shivaji Desai, Sahaji Bapu Patil, Mahendra Hari Dadvi, Japradeep Shivnarayan Jaiswal, Mahendra Sadashiv Thorve, Kishore Appa Patil, Bharatshet Maruti Gogavale, Gyanraj Bhondiram Chowgule, Balaji Prahlad Kidnikar, Suhas Dwarkanath Kande, Sanjay Gaikwad.

REBELLION IN MAHA GOVT?

The present political turmoil has raised concerns for Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and may lead to instability in the government. The crisis started brewing after the results of the MLC polls were announced yesterday.

The BJP won five seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election with Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party bagging two each. Around 20 MLAs are suspected to have cross-voted.

Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition.

The victory has given a big boost to the opposition BJP, which recently also bagged three of six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra despite lacking numbers in the Assembly.

After the suspected cross-voting in the MLC polls, Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray convened an urgent meeting of all party MLAs on Tuesday noon. All the party MLAs have been asked to remain present at the meeting.

PLOT TO OVERTHROW WON’T WORK, SAYS RAUT

Reacting to the developments, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said efforts are being made to topple the MVA government. He claimed that the BJP was trying to overthrow the government and alleged that a plot was being formed to weaken Shiv Sena.

However, Raut went on to add that the plot would not succeed and that pressure tactics would not work in Maharashtra. "I know Eknath Shinde Ji, he is a true Shiv Sainik. He will return without any conditions," Raut told reporters.

BJP WILL STAKE CLAIM IF NEEDED

Maharashtra BJP leader Pravin Darekar said if the need arose, the BJP would stake claim to form government in Maharashtra. He said the party would do whatever is right for the people of Maharashtra and that the interest of citizens was more important than power.

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has left for Delhi amid the rebellion by Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. Fadnavis is scheduled to meet the top party leadership in the national capital.

Also reacting to the developments, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said that the party is minutely observing the turn of events.

CONGRESS ASSESSING SITUATION

Amid the brewing political crisis in the state, the Congress also went into a huddle. Congress leaders met at party leader Balasaheb Thorat’s official residence in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Commenting on the issue, Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole accused the BJP of taking Indian democracy towards untruthfulness. Patole has also called a meeting of all Maharashtra Congress leaders today.

Courtesy: India Today