A DAY after reporting 2,369 new Covid-19 cases, the state recorded 3,482 cases on Tuesday with a surge of 47 per cent in the last 24 hours. Also, for the third consecutive day, five Covid fatalities were also recorded in Maharashtra.Out of the total numbers, Mumbai reported 1,290 cases. The test positivity rate (TPR) — the number of positive cases out of the total tests conducted — stood at 11.70 per cent in the city with 11,012 tests conducted on Tuesday.With the upward spiral of Covid cases, the total active cases in Maharashtra stood at 25,481 as of June 28. Out of the five deaths reported in the state on the day, two were from Mumbai. A 75-year-old male patient who succumbed to the infection had comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and dementia. The other deceased, a 54-year-old female, also had comorbidities such as liver failure along with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Other than that, one death has been reported each from Vasai-Virar, Satara and Gadchiroli.As per the latest genome sequencing report of National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, nine patients have been diagnosed with BA.5 and BA.4–the new variant of Omicron. Of these, four are from Palghar, three from Raigad, and two from Thane. This takes the total identified cases of BA.4 and BA.5 to 63 in the state.
At 23 per cent, the Covid positivity rate in Pune in the week ending June 27 was twice that of Maharashtra, according to a state health department report. The Covid weekly positivity rate for Mumbai and Thane in the period was recorded at 16 per cent each.At present, Maharashtra’s weekly Covid positivity rate stands at 12 per cent.According to data, Mumbai has shown an 11 per cent decline in new Covid infections in the week June 21-27 with 12,479 cases being detected vis a vis 14,089 in the preceding week. In contrast, Pune has shown a 66 per cent rise in new Covid infections in the week June 21-27 with 3,583 cases being detected as compared to 2,157 in the preceding week.Experts say there has to be a sustained decrease in the number of cases in the next three to four weeks to affirm whether cases have peaked and are now showing a decline. “This can be anecdotal but patients who contacted me last week with symptoms like fever, cold and cough have tested positive for Covid. A number of them are using rapid antigen tests to get quick results,” Dr Sanjay Pujari, infectious diseases consultant, said.Tally of BA.3, BA.4 patients reaches 63According to the latest report from the National Institute of Virology, seven patients of BA.5 and two of BA.4 variants of Omicron have been detected in the state. These include four from Palghar, three from Raigad and two from Thane from samples collected from May 31 to June 11. 🚨 Limited Time Offer | Express Premium with ad-lite for just Rs 2/ day 👉🏽 Click here to subscribe 🚨In all, there are 63 patients of BA.4 and BA.5 of which 15 are from Pune, 33 from Mumbai, four each from Nagpur, Thane and Palghar, and three from Raigad.
Re-establishing the need for vaccination, the latest genome sequencing report of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revealed that Covid-related mortality is higher among unvaccinated patients.Out of the 269 patients whose samples were taken for sequencing, 107 or 39.7 per cent were unvaccinated. Of these, five required admission in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and three lost their lives. On the other hand, among the eight patients who had taken one dose and 154 patients who were fully vaccinated, no death was recorded.The requirement of treatment in ICU was also found to be less among partially and fully-vaccinated patients. Only one patient who had taken both the doses of the vaccines needed admission in the ICU.“In the genome-sequencing report, we witnessed that the severity of infection was much higher among unvaccinated patients. This group of patients also needed more time for recovery. This again highlights the need for vaccination, especially among the elderly with comorbidities,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, Executive Health Officer, BMC.Echoing similar view, Dr Rahul Pandit, member of the Covid-19 task force, said that vaccines don’t provide shield against infection but lower the severity which contains the mortality rate. “Vaccines will confer sterilising immunity in everyone. They provide us immunity against severe diseases and mortality. These are generation one vaccines made from the ancestral strain; it has never been claimed that vaccinated people will never get infected. Also, if one gets infected, chances are that they will be asymptomatic or have minor symptoms,” he said.Since the surge in Covid-19, the civic body has been sending naso-oropharyngeal positive sample from hospitalised patients as well as people testing positive in dispensaries and laboratories for genome sequencing.As per the 13th genome-sequencing report, out of the total samples collected, 268 or 99.63 per cent were detected with variants of Omicron. Of these, six and 12 patients were detected with the new variant of Omicron—BA.4 and BA.5 — respectively.A total of 60.59 per cent (163) Covid-19 patients found positive with the Omicron variant were in the age bracket of 21-60 of which 40 per cent (108) were in the 21 to 40 age group. Around 10.78 per cent (29) were in the 0-18 age group.On Monday, the state registered a total of 2,369 new Covid-19 cases, of which Mumbai constituted 1,062 cases. The state capital registered five more deaths which pushed up the total mortality to 37 as of June 27.
4th Wave of Corona in India: Amid the possible threat of the 4th wave of coronavirus, India on Monday logged 17,073 new coronavirus infections and 21 fatalities—six from Kerala, five from Maharashtra, four from Delhi, two each from Goa and Punjab and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh.Also Read - Wrist-Worn Trackers Combined With AI Can Detect Covid Before Symptoms Appear, Study FindsWith the fresh COVID cases, the daily positivity rate crossed 5 per cent after a hiatus of over 4 months, the Union Health Ministry said, adding that the total tally rose to 4,34,07,046. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.57 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,27,87,606, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent. While the death toll climbed to 5,25,020 , the active cases rose to 94,420, comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.62 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 3.39 per cent, the ministry stated. Also Read - COVID Symptoms? Follow These Measures Immediately For Quick Recovery And Help Others From Getting InfectedStates have been asked to refer to the directions issued in a letter by the ministry dated April 8, 2022 for strategic areas of intervention like relaxation in various activities, testing and surveillance, clinical management, vaccination, and community engagement with an increased focus on evidence-based decision making. Also Read - PKGKAY Scheme: No More Free Food Grains After September? Check What Finance Ministry SaidAs per the doctors, the major reasons for the current Covid peak seen in India, include:-
Mumbai: Two of the five Covid victims reported on Sunday were over 90 years of age and had heart disease, while two others—an 88-year-old male and a 43-year-old female—had chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The fifth was a 70-year-old male with diabetes and hypertension.A senior civic doctor said that these deaths relate to cases that were a fortnight old. “The Covid pattern is such that cases peak first and deaths follow a fortnight or so later,”’ the doctor said. Dr Rahul Pandit, a member of the state Covid taskforce, said that the “present surge or wave is clearly plateauing” as the daily tally is falling. “The surge occurred as people stopped using a mask even as their antibodies to Covid waned in the six months since the third wave” he added.Sunday was, however, an aberration because the state registered a five-month-high tally (6,493 cases) due to a technical glitch the previous day. “On Saturday, due to the glitch, the daily data couldn’t be downloaded from the ICMR Covid portal. Today those remaining cases have been added to the tally,’’ said state surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate. (while the state’s reconciled data said BMC’s tally was 2,771, the BMC update on Sunday showed the tally as 1,700 cases).In Mumbai, hospitalisations, which had increased beyond 100 a day, dropped to 85 on Sunday. The daily test positivity rate, which had climbed to 20% last week, has been around 12% for the last three days.Meanwhile, the state public health department announced that newer Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 were found in five more patients from Mumbai. “These samples were collected between June 10 and 20,’’ said Dr Awate. While three patients had BA.5, two had the BA.4 variant.The total tally of BA.4 and BA.5 cases in Maharashtra has gone up to 54. Mumbai has the highest number with 33, followed by Pune (15), Nagpur (4) and Thane (2).The latest genome sequencing report from Mumbai had indicated that the present surge is due to the BA.2.38 sub-lineage of Omicron; 90% of the 364 samples tested in Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital genome laboratory had BA.2 and BA.2.38 variants.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday made an emotional appeal to rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena, who are camping in Guwahati, to return to the party and have a dialogue with him to sort out issues. He also said that he was “worried” about them. This came on a day when Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said that the rebel MLAs will soon return to Mumbai and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis visited Delhi to meet party president J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah.In his appeal to the rebels, Thackeray said, “You have been stuck in Guwahati for the last few days. Every day, new information is coming forth about you and many of you are in touch with us. You are still in Shiv Sena in your heart. The family members of some of you have also contacted me and conveyed their feelings to me. I respect your feelings as the head of Shiv Sena family. As the head of the family, I tell you from the bottom of my heart, there is still time.”The appeal came a day after the Supreme Court issued an interim order giving relief to the rebel camp after 16 of its MLAs were issued disqualification notices by the deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly.Addressing the rebels, Thackeray asked them to come and sit in front of him. “… Don’t fall prey to anyone’s missteps and false assurances.”After Thackeray’s appeal, Shinde took to Twitter and said, “On one hand, your son and spokesperson are calling Balasaheb’s Shiv Sainiks as pigs, dirt, buffalo, dogs, illiterate and corpses, abusing our fathers, and on the other hand you are calling the same MLAs to save the anti-Hindu MVA government. What is the meaning of this?”Thackeray’s appeal did not seem to have any impact on the rebel MLAs. Deepak Kesarkar, a rebel MLA told The Indian Express that the appeal does not make any sense now. “We have already presented our side to the CM and today also, we are firm on our demand that first they should come out of the MVA… after that we will come for discussion. We respect them (Thackeray) but first they should come out of MVA, then call us for discussion and we will come.”Bharat Gogawale, another MLA and the chief whip appointed by the Shinde camp, added, “It is very late now… nothing can happen.” He further said that Sena MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut’s statements have ruined everything. “He should know what to say in such a situation,” Gogawale said.The rebel MLAs also said that the Thackeray camp has not been consistent in its stand and approach towards them.In fact, contradictions can be seen in the statements issued by various Sena leaders in Mumbai over the last week. On June 24, Thackeray, while addressing party workers, had said that “those who have gone were never his and had betrayed him”.Over the last week, Aaditya and Raut had made several objectionable statements against the rebel MLAs. While Aaditya had referred to them as “dirt” and “traitors” in his address to Yuva Sena cadres on June 25, while addressing a rally on Sunday, Raut had called the rebels “dogs”, “buffaloes”, “thief” and “living corpse”.Also on June 26, Aaditya had said that the door of the party is closed for the rebel MLAs. A day before, hinting that the MLAs will have to face Mumbaikars and the Shiv Sainiks on their arrival.The MLAs in Guwahati, meanwhile, said that the leadership in Mumbai is not clear of what it wants and should take a clear stand. “You cannot have it both ways,” said a senior rebel MLA.
MUMBAI: Striking an aggressive note against the rebel faction led by Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said those who have betrayed the party leadership should not be able to move around. "Traitors should not be able to roam on the streets," he said, addressing a rally at Alibag near here. Notably, Maharashtra chief minister and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray earlier in the day had adopted a reconciliatory tone when he asked the rebels to return to the state from Guwahati where they are camping, and talk out the issues. Raut, at the public meeting, also slammed the rebel MLAs' claim that their fight was for protecting the party's Hindutva moorings, pointing out that more than half of them were earlier with the NCP. "The rebel MLAs supporting Eknath Shinde are saying their cause is to protect the Hindutva envisaged by party founder Balasaheb Thackeray. "Twenty-two of them have come from the Nationalist Congress Party. What Hindutva they are talking about? Those who opposed Balasaheb Thackeray ended up ruining their own career," he said. Raut also called the party MLA from Alibag, Mahendra Dalvi, who has joined the Shinde camp, a "bullock". "When I called Mahendra, he said he was taking rest and disconnected the call. He was earlier with the NCP and also other political parties like the Peasants and Workers Party....I think it is time to change the bullock," Raut said. When the MVA coalition with Congress and NCP was being formed, Thackeray wanted to make Eknath Shinde chief minister, he further said. "If Shinde joins hands with the BJP now, he would become (only) a deputy chief minister," the Sena MP said. Before the 2019 Assembly elections, Thackeray had demanded "50:50 formula of portfolio sharing including the top post", Raut said. "It was the BJP which opposed it, hence Shinde lost the opportunity to become the chief minister of Maharashtra," he claimed. Then BJP chief Amit Shah had promised to share the chief minister's post with the Sena but later broke the promise, Raut alleged.
A Pune-based activist has filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court seeking direction to the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a probe and register an FIR against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, minister Aaditya Thackeray, and Shiv Sena lawmaker Sanjay Raut for sedition and allegedly causing a public nuisance.The PIL filed by Hemant Baburao Patil also seeks an order restraining them from organising press conferences, tours, and visits to various places in Maharashtra on the issue of rebel MLAs.Patil, known for filing petitions on most of the politically important or sensitive issues in Maharashtra many of which are not yet heard by HC, claimed that after a political crisis, the dissident MLAs fled to Guwahati to protect their lives after receiving threats from the Thackerays and Raut.He claimed that protests staged by Shiv Sena cadre in various districts of Maharashtra were the only way to create fear in citizens’ minds, who were apprehending riot like situation and violence in the state and most of the protests were organised under the influence and instigation of Thackeray father-son duo and Raut.“… in various districts of State of Maharashtra antisocial elements have damaged public property in the State in front of police personals and there is a situation of breach of law and order in the State for which the respondents are only responsible for the same,” he claimed in his PIL.Patil, who filed the PIL through advocate R N Kachave, also said that the central government providing Y plus security to rebel MLAs was a sign that there has been a breach of peace in Maharashtra.Maharashtra is in the midst of political turmoil following a rebellion by MLAs of the ruling Shiv Sena led by party leader Eknath Shinde.
Eknath Shinde and his group of rebel MLAs have been staying at a five-star hotel in Guwahati.Mumbai: Sena rebel Eknath Shinde has said he will head soon for Mumbai and talk to the Governor -- the next big move in the week-long political crisis in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, has written to the rebel MLAs, asking them to meet him. Here are the top 5 facts in this big story:"We are all going to Mumbai.. No need to worry about this. We will go to Mumbai soon," Eknath Shinde told reporters in Guwahati today.He also said he would speak to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.Sources have indicated that Mr Shinde is likely to go to Delhi first.At least 48 MLAs are inside the Guwahati hotel where Mr Shinde has been camping since last week.Mr Shinde claims he has 50 MLAs with him at Guwahati and 40 of them are from the Shiv Sena."There is no need to create doubt in anyone's mind... the 50 people we have have come of their own free will and they are happy. We have come here with a role. We have not come here for our own selfishness. These people have come here with the idea of Hindutva and Balasaheb," he said. Comments
MUMBAI POLICE Commissioner Sanjay Pandey on Tuesday called legislators from the Shiv Sena and BJP to his office in order to discuss the law and order situation in the city in light of the current political turmoil in the state. Those who attended the meeting included BJP MLAs Mihir Kotecha, Parag Alavani and party corporator Atul Shah, among others. The Shiv Sena was represented by some of the party’s corporators.“We had been called by the Mumbai police commissioner to discuss the law andorder situation in the city keeping in mind the political turmoil. We all want peace in the city. What is happening within the Shiv Sena is their personal matter and we have nothing to do with it,” said Alavani.The Supreme Court, while hearing the pleas filed by the rebel Sena candidates earlier, had instructed the state government to ensure that there are no law and order problems in the city and the residences of rebel candidates are not attacked. Police have also conducted several meetings with Shiv Sena shakha pramukhs, asking them to maintain peace. Earlier, on Monday, a two-hour meeting was conducted by Mumbai Police, during which the top brass interacted with senior inspectors of local police stations, asking them to ensure that law and order was maintained in their jurisdictions.Soon after the rebellion in the Shiv Sena, offices of rebel MLAs such as Mangesh Kudalkar and Sada Sarvankar had been attacked and their posters had been blackened. Later, CRPF protection was provided to four Sena MLAs in the city.
NEW DELHI: Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda here on Tuesday to discuss the party's next course of action amid the spiralling political crisis in the state threatening the three-party Maha Vikas Adhadi government's existence. Fadnavis was joined by BJP MP and senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani in the meeting with the home minister, sources said. They are believed to have explored various options available for the party and deliberated on their legal feasibility as the BJP works to recapture power in Maharashtra with the help of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and several independent lawmakers. After meeting Shah, Fadnavis drove to Nadda's residence and briefed him about the unfolding political developments in the western state. Earlier in the day, he arrived in the national capital from Mumbai to discuss the issue with the party's top brass. Around 39 rebel Sena MLAs and at least 10 independent legislators from the state have lodged themselves at a five star hotel in Assam in their bid to bring down the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government. The BJP has denied any role in the rebellion but Fadnavis is being seen to be playing a key role in working out a post-MVA dispensation which he may head with support from the Sena rebels. BJP sources have maintained that any concrete outline of the next government has not been worked out but added that Eknath Shinde, the senior Sena leader who has led the rebellion against his party's alliance with traditional adversaries the Congress and the NCP, and other key members of the group will be suitably accommodated in case their party comes to power. Shinde may be made deputy chief minister in such an eventuality. The priority right now is to bring down the MVA government as it has clearly lost majority in the assembly, BJP leaders said. The rebels may approach the state governor, conveying the decision to withdraw their support from the Thackeray government. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari then may ask the ruling alliance to undergo a floor test in the assembly. The next couple of days may see a fresh movement from the rebels against the government, sources said. Though the BJP sources expressed confidence that the Uddhav Thackeray government is on its last leg, the party is treading cautiously to avoid any wrong move like the one in 2019 which had caused it embarrassment when Fadnavis formed a short lived government in alliance with the NCP faction headed by Ajit Pawar without ensuring adequate support of MLAs. Fadnavis had to resign in three days as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar rallied his party MLAs to thwart his nephew's bid to join hands with the BJP to form the government. The Sena then joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to come to power. The BJP has long nursed a grudge against the Sena as both parties had fought the 2019 assembly polls together and had secured a comfortable majority. However, its ally insistence that the post of chief ministership should be rotated between the two parties and not be held by the BJP alone led to a split.
Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday reached Delhi to hold discussions with the central leadership, including BJP president J P Nadda, on the political developments in the western state. Meanwhile, all BJP MLAs were asked to reach Mumbai in the next 24 hours and also asked not to leave the state.With rebel MLA Eknath Shinde’s faction getting support from 50 plus MLAs, the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s existence is under question. Of the total 55 Shiv Sena MLAs, 40 have joined hands with the rebel camp. The others in the camp are Independents.Highly placed sources in the BJP said, “With Shiv Sena losing two third of its members, the MVA has become a minority. In such a situation, we have asked all the 106 BJP MLAs to be on alert. They have been asked not to leave Maharashtra. If required, they should be able to reach Mumbai any time.” The next 48 hours are going to be crucial for the BJP. It will also see Eknath Shinde returning to Mumbai along with the rebels.On Tuesday afternoon, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made an ardent emotional appeal to the rebels to set aside their differences and return to Shiv Sena.In a statement issued by Thackeray he said, “You are still in the Sena. The family members of some of you have also contacted me and conveyed their feelings to me. I respect your feelings as the head of Shiv Sena’s family. As the head of Shiv Sena, I am still worried about you. Come here for a dialogue. Remove the confusion and let us work together.”
Sena rebels are currently camping in BJP-ruled AssamNew Delhi: The BJP's Devendra Fadnavis met party chief JP Nadda in Delhi today for a 30-minute strategy session as Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde declared from Guwahati that he and his rebel MLAs are ready to go to Mumbai and meet the Governor.The BJP has repeatedly claimed that they are not involved in the Sena crisis that can potentially bring down the alliance government in Maharashtra led by Uddhav Thackeray.But the choice of safe zones for rebels - first BJP-ruled Gujarat and then BJP-ruled Assam - has sent out a contradictory signal.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comIn Assam, several BJP MLAs have reportedly been put in charge of logistics for the Maharashtra MLAs camping there. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was seen in the hotel.Recently, Mr Shinde had even admitted that he has the support of a big national party, though he stopped short of naming it.
New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met BJP president J P Nadda here on Tuesday amid the spiralling political crisis in the state threatening the three-party Maha Vikas Adhadi government's existence. Fadnavis is believed to have briefed Nadda about the unfolding political developments in the western state. He arrived in the national capital earlier to discuss the issue with the party's top brass, with 39 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and at least 10 independent legislators from the state lodged in a five star hotel in Assam and working on overdrive to bring down the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government. The BJP has denied any role in the rebellion but Fadnavis is being seen to be playing a key role in working out a post-MVA dispensation which he may head with support from the Sena rebels.
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena is preparing to move the Supreme Court if governor B S Koshyari asks CM Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly. According to reports, a section of independent legislators may approach Koshyari, saying they have withdrawn support to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, following which it has lost its majority. At the time of formation of the MVA government, these independent legislators had extended support to Thackeray. If they approach the governor, Koshyari will have no option but to ask Thackeray to prove his majority. Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said he was not aware if a petition has been filed before Kolshyari, but if he directs the CM to prove his majority, Sena will approach the Supreme Court. During the course of hearing of the petition filed by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, the Supreme Court had observed that the deputy speaker of the legislative assembly cannot disqualify the rebel legislators till July 12. "Our information is that the SC has ordered status quo. Further, the court orally declined to pass any order in connection with the no- confidence motion. So it is expected that Raj Bhavan will not ask the CM to prove his majority on the floor of the house. If directions are issued for a floor test, then Sena will approach SC," Sawant said. Read AlsoMeet the 'coterie' that rebels blame for Sena's troublesMany Sainiks have blamed the breakdown of communication between them and the top leadership for the trouble that the party finds itself. Here are some of the people, Sainiks believe, were responsible for the snapPublic works minister Ashok Chavan said since the SC has ordered status quo, he does not think Raj Bhavan will order a floor test. "In my opinion, it is a sub-judice matter. Everyone will have to wait till July 12," he said. Former CM Prithviraj Chavan too felt it would be wrong to ask the CM to hold a floor test. "There were three main issues before the apex court: disqualification of legislators who defied the party whip, no- confidence motion against deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal and appointment of Shiv Sena legislature party leader Ajay Choudhary. I feel that in view of the clear legal position, Raj Bhavan will not ask the CM to prove his majority on the floor of the house," he said. Read AlsoWhat if Uddhav's softness is tactical?All his life, Uddhav had been described as too soft to run Shiv Sena. His record of winning elections and party battles, however, says something elseThe MVA's lawyer Devdutt Kamat had contended in SC that till the pendency of the petition, Raj Bhavan should be restrained from asking the CM to prove his majority. The apex court declined to pass an order but gave liberty to Sena to approach it if it is aggrieved by any order.
NEW DELHI: BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Mumbai's Raj Bhavan late on Tuesday and submitted a letter requesting him to ask CM Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority in the Assembly. Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE UpdatesAfter waiting for over a week as the Maharashtra political crisis played out between the MVA government and the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde, the BJP on Tuesday finally made its move. The development came hours after Fadnavis met BJP chief J P Nadda and Union home minister Amit shah in Delhi. "We informed the Governor that the Thackeray-led government is in the minority as 39 MLAs of the Shiv Sena want to snap ties with the Congress and NCP [the other parties in the alliance govt]," said Fadnavis. Earlier in the day, Shinde had told reporters that he and his 49 MLAs (39 from Shiv Sena and 10 Independents) would be returning to Mumbai soon. On Monday, the Supreme Court had granted relief to the rebel camp by allowing the legislators time till July 12 to reply to the disqualification notice sent to them by the deputy speaker. Read AlsoSC grants interim relief to Shiv Sena rebel MLAs: 5 key points from today's hearingThe Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and said that no decision will be taken on their disqualification till July 12. The Maharashtra deputy Speaker had granted the legislators time till June 27 evening to file a reply.In reaction, the Shiv Sena had requested the apex court to also direct that no floor test can be held till the time of the next hearing. The SC, however, refused to entertain the request. "We cannot pass order on floor test as that would create unnecessary complications. If anything illegal happens, you can always move this court," the SC had said. (With inputs from agencies)
Maharashtra Crisis Latest Updates: After returning from Delhi, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday night and sought a floor test in the assembly. “We handed over a letter to the Governor citing the present political developments in the state. We requested him to ask the state government to prove majority in the Assembly,” Fadnavis told reporters.Also Read - Let's Talk, We'll Find A Way: Uddhav Thackeray Reaches Out to Rebel MLAs to Return HomeNotably, Fadnavis was accompanied by BJP leaders Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Pravin Darekar, Girish Mahajan and Shrikant Bharatiya to the Raj Bhawan. Also Read - Chess, 'Sewaiyan', 'Ghar Ka Khana': What's Happening Inside Radisson Blu As More Rebel MLAs Join Shinde CampFadnavis in the letter informed the governor informed Shiv Sena’s 39 MLAs are saying that they are not with the Sena and they do not want to support the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Also Read - Maharashtra Crisis: Uddhav Thackeray Wanted to Resign on June 22, But What Changed His Mind | Explained“We’ve given a letter to Mahrashtra Governor and told him that the 39 Shiv Sena MLAs are saying that they don’t want to be with NCP, Congress government; it shows MVA government has lost the majority. We’ve requested the governor to direct the CM to immediately prove his majority through a floor test,” Devendra Fadnavis said.We've given a letter to Mahrashtra Gov & told him that the 39 Shiv Sena MLAs are saying that they don't want to be with NCP,Cong govt; it shows MVA govt has lost the majority. We've requested Gov to direct CM to immediately prove his majority through Floor test: Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/AfeRr9HjVI— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2022Earlier in the day, Devendra Fadnavis met Union minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda to discuss the party’s next course of action amid the spiralling political crisis in the state.After meeting Shah, Fadnavis drove to Nadda’s residence and briefed him about the unfolding political developments in the western state.Earlier in the day, he arrived in the national capital from Mumbai to discuss the issue with the party’s top brass.Around 39 rebel Sena MLAs and at least 10 independent legislators from the state have lodged themselves at a five star hotel in Assam in their bid to bring down the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government.
MUMBAI: After the Supreme Court decision which has halted the disqualification of rebel MLAs, Thackeray junior has demanded a floor test. He said he has not yet read the Supreme Court's verdict though, would react to it later on. He also dubbed the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut as a “circus”. While expressing confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would emerge from the crisis, Thackeray said they (rebels) have only two options, one is to get disqualified or merge with BJP, MNS or Prahar party. He also said that if they want to return, Sena's doors are open. "We are confident of winning. We all have people's love with us. Those who betray don't win. Those who run away don't win," he told the reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with representatives from BDD chawls. “This is not politics, this has now become a circus.” Thackeray told a news agency while commenting on ED summons to Raut. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also termed the Enforcement Directorate's summons issued to him as a “conspiracy” to stop him from fighting against their political opponents, and said he will not be able to appear before the agency on Tuesday as he has to attend a meeting in Alibaug. Thackeray called the Shinde camp "traitors, not rebels", and said, they should have resigned and contested the election. "Those who ran away from here & are calling themselves rebels, if they wanted to rebel, they should've done it here. They should've resigned and contested election. The second floor test would be when they sit before me, look me in the eye and say "what did we do wrong." Raut said he is a “Shiv Sena tiger” and the executive editor of a fierce newspaper like the (Sena mouthpiece) 'Saamana'. He asserted that such actions cannot weaken him mentally. Raut said if there are orders from the BJP leaders, they (the probe agency sleuths) can arrest him. Sanjay Raut's brother MLA Sunil Raut claimed the ED summons were to scare the parliamentarian as he has been opposing the BJP. In April, the ED provisionally attached assets worth more than Rs 11.15 crore of Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut and two of his associates as part of this investigation. Raut in a tweet said, “I just came to know that the ED has summoned me. Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me.Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route.” “Arrest me ! Jai Hind!” he added. In his tweet in Marathi, he also tagged BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has lost majority in house and a floor test is in order, the BJP told the Governor this evening. The party delegation was led by Devendra Fadnavis, who headed for the meet on his return from Delhi. Here are the Top 10 points in this big story:"We have written to the Governor and told him that Shiv Sena's 39 MLAs are repeatedly saying they don't want to be in an alliance with the Congress-NCP. This means they are not with the government," Devendra Fadnavis told reporters after the meeting."So we have told the Governor that he should ask the Chief Minister to conduct a floor test and prove majority," he added.Mr Fadnavis -- the predecessor of Uddhav Thackeray on the top post -- headed for the Governor's House straight from the airport. He was accompanied by Girish Mahajan and state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil.In Delhi, Mr Fadnavis had a 30-minute strategy session with BJP chief JP Nadda this evening amid speculation about the party staking claim to form government.Earlier today, sources had said the Governor may ask Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove majority this week.The Team Thackeray had requested the Supreme Court that no floor test be allowed till the matter of disqualification notices to 17 rebel MLAs be settled. The court has refused to pass orders on it.In a day of fast-paced developments, Mr Thackeray sought a meeting with the rebels on their return to Mumbai, which is likely on Thursday."I want to appeal to you - time is still not lost. Please come, sit with me, remove all doubts from the minds of Shiv Sainiks and the public, then we can find a way out. We can sit together and find a way out," Mr Thackeray wrote.Eknath Shinde, who is leading the coup aganst Uddhav Thackeray, said that he would go to Mumbai "soon" and "take Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy forward", indicating that he is ready for the next move. He claims he has the backing of around 50 MLAs, nearly 40 of them from the Shiv Sena.The Shiv Sena has accused the BJP of masterminding the revolt and hounding its leaders using investigating agencies. Uddhav Thackeray's key spokesperson, Sanjay Raut, was summoned today by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case but he refused to go. Mr Raut terms the summons a conspiracy. Comments
Mumbai: Shiv Sena on Tuesday refuted reports which claimed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had called BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.In an official statement, Shiv Sena spokesperson Harshal Pradhan said, "Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray called Devendra Fadnavis to save the government some such news is going on but this news is only to mislead. Whatever, Uddhav Thackeray has to say, he speaks publicly."Earlier, sources had claimed that Mr Thackeray was in touch with BJP leaders to find a way out of the political crisis facing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that includes the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress apart from Shiv Sena.The sources had also said that Thackeray was ready to resign on June 22 at 5 pm after it was clear that there was "no way out" of the political crisis facing the Maharashtra government but MVA allies convinced him not to resign.A core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation. The BJP has decided that the party will follow the "wait and watch" approach."We had clarified yesterday as well that we will hold another core team meeting in the days to come, keeping in mind its necessity - if any. We will deliberate and make a decision. Right now we are in a wait-and-watch mode," said Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP leader.Meanwhile, rebel Shiv Sena MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp, who are currently in Assam will huddle together this afternoon to discuss the further plan of action, amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra.According to the sources, they are expected to take an important decision today. Independent MLAs might approach Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari very soon.Sources have earlier learned that the MLAs are likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati and are unlikely to return before July 5."Rebel Maharashtra MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement," sources said on Tuesday.Notably, the political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs.On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday.The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
What about out federal structure, questioned Mamata Banerjee amid Mahrashtra crisisAsansol (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the BJP was spending crores of rupees to topple the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra, further raising concerns over the fate of the country's federal structure.Ms Banerjee also lashed out at the BJP-led Centre over the arrests of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair and social activist Teesta Setalvad for "trying to expose the truth".The Trinamool boss complained that a section of media never bothers to report about such matters, but focuses all of their attention on “trivial issues involving opposition parties”."Why have you arrested Mohammed Zubair and Teesta Setalvad? What wrong have they done? Does speaking out the truth or exposing the truth a crime? Those who are speaking out against this government are either harassed by using agencies or arrested," the Chief Minster said.Major opposition parties and media organisations have condemned Mr Zubair's arrest on Monday by the Delhi Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in one of his tweets. On Tuesday, the Editors Guild of India termed it "extremely disturbing" and demanded his immediate release.Ms Setalvad was on Saturday evening taken into custody by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) from Mumbai in connection with an FIR registered against her at the Ahmedabad city crime branch.Ms Banerjee, during her address to party workers in Asansol area of Paschim Bardhaman district, said, “The BJP government is busy morphing pictures and videos on social media. It is them who circulate fake videos and propagate lies and propaganda on social media. They have the money to keep pushing fake news and narratives on the social media.” In an apparent reference to controversial remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammad, she alleged that those who had been spreading hatred and violence in the country are not being taken to task."I won't take names, but it is the BJP leaders who talk ill about other religions and yet don't get arrested. In fact, even if they commit murders, they won't be questioned. If any opposition leader talks about that murder, however, they will be harassed, arrested. This is the reality of India today," she claimed.The Chief Minister sought to know why security was being accorded to people who “incited violence”.“The Bengal government is not like the BJP; the Kolkata Police has issued summons to the leader who instigated communal violence," she stated.Attacking the Centre over the ‘Agnipath' recruitment scheme for armed forces, she said it was a "major scam and another example of Jumla politics" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.“I have recently received a communication from a colonel who requested that Agniveers, after four years of service in armed forces, be given the opportunity to be state government employees. It is a mess created by the Centre, and they have to clean it. We will not take the onus," she asserted.She gave a clarion call for the ouster of the BJP-led NDA government, stating that "time has come to put an end to the anti-people regime".Talking about the Maharashtra crisis, she said, "The BJP is spending crores of rupees to topple the government in Maharashtra. Where are they getting so much money to topple an elected government of a state? Where is our country's democracy heading to? What about out federal structure? Has the BJP decided to bulldoze everything in this country," Banerjee, said.Maharashtra is embroiled in a political turmoil, with several rebel MLAs of the ruling Shiv Sena camping in Assam, in what seems to be a bid to topple the MVA coalition government in the state.The Chief Minister maintained that the BJP-led government is "using" its agencies against opposition parties."The BJP is doing whatever suits them. It is using central agencies like CBI and the ED against those who are speaking the truth," she iterated, addressing her first rally in Asansol after the party's victory in Lok Sabha bypoll in April this year.Hitting out at a section of media for “spreading canards against opposition parties”, the Trinamool supremo said the media should start talking about the money that PM Cares received."The media only wants to talk about ‘cut money' in Bengal, but what about the money that was donated to the PM Cares Fund? No one dares to question it. If there is a small incident in Bengal, the media starts raising hue and cries without even bothering to cross-check facts. Why shouldn't action be taken against false news?" she questioned.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMs Banerjee urged party workers to gear up for the upcoming Martyrs' Day rally on July 21 in the state, being held in grand manner after a gap of two years owing to COVID-19 pandemic "For the last two years, we could not hold the July 21 rally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we will make it a grand success. On that day, we will also announce new programmes," she added.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
PUNE: Shiv Sena tehsil-level units in Pune have become aggressive against rebel party MLAs currently camping in Guwahati. Sena workers, claiming to be loyalists of party president and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, staged 'jode maro' (hit with footwear) in Shirur, Khed, and Ambegaon tehsils in the last two days. They raised slogans against the rebels saying they should be punished for their actions against the principle of the party. "It is unfortunate and unacceptable to see the behaviour of the rebel MLAs. They have not only ditched the party but the values and principles of the party that they have practiced over the years. People will show them their 'real political position' during the elections in the future," said Popat Shelar, the vice president of Shiv Sena, Pune district. Shivaji Adhalrao-Patil, three-time MP of the Shiv Sena, told TOI on Monday, "A large number of the party workers have come out in the support of Uddhav Thackeray in the district. In fact, after Mumbai, the Pune district has seen several rallies of the workers against the rebels. Some of the workers in the villages have burnt the effigies of rebels in Ambegaon and Junnar tehsils. It shows how they are angry against the rebels." Adhalrao said that the party has a sizeable number of workers across all 13 tehsils. They have been 'loyal' to the party over the decades. "Although the party does not have MLA in Pune district, it has a strong support base at the village level. As a result, the unrest against the rebels is growing in the district," added Adhalraopatil, who is holding meetings with the party workers across the district.
INDORE: BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday said his party was watching the turmoil in the ruling Shiv Sena in neighbouring Maharashtra from a distance. The main constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the neighbouring state plunged into disarray on June 21 after senior leader Eknath Shinde rebelled against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and was now in Guwahati with a sizable number of dissidents. "We have no role in the current turmoil in Maharashtra. This (rebellion) is internal strife of the Shiv Sena. We are just standing at a distance and watching it," Vijayvargiya told reporters. Speaking about reports of Sainiks loyal to Thackeray attacking offices of rebel MLAs, he said efforts were being made to create a "West Bengal like situation" in Maharashtra by spreading fear and terror. Vijayvargiya, who was one of the key strategists for the BJP for the WB polls, added that people of Maharashtra would not want the state to fall prey to anarchy.
The Shiv Sena Tuesday raised the issue of renaming of Aurangabad city to Sambhaji Nagar and said the state cabinet will take a decision on the matter Wednesday.“In today’s cabinet, I have raised the issue of renaming Aurangabad city to Sambhaji Nagar. A resolution to this effect will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting that will be held on Wednesday,” minister Anil Parab said after the cabinet meeting Tuesday.The Shiv Sena’s decision to rake up the renaming issue comes at a time when it is facing a serious political crisis with a large chunk of party MLAs having deserted the Sena. The rebel MLAs have over the past few days questioned the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s commitment to Hindutva, stating that the party is gradually being weaned away from its core ideology.In the late 1980s, Aurangabad became one of the first major cities outside the Mumbai-Thane belt that the Sena set its eyes on, said political pundits. The city’s 30 per cent Muslim population made it fertile ground for polarisation, and soon after riots that led to the killing of over 25 people, in 1988, the Sena won the elections to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.On May 8, 1988, Shiv Sena supremo late Balasaheb Thackeray announced the renaming of the city as Sambhaji Nagar after Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji, who was killed by Aurangzeb. In 1995, the corporation passed a resolution to do so, and the Shiv-Sena led government in the state issued a notification seeking suggestions and objections from people on this.The notification was challenged in the Bombay High Court by then AMC Congress corporator Mushtaq Ahmed. While the plea was dismissed by the Court stating that no decision had been taken, the renaming has remained a contentious issue and resurfaces ahead of every election.With the Shiv Sena in power, both the BJP and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have over the past two years been criticising the Sena for its failure to rename the city. Sena’s MVA allies, the Congress and the NCP, have not been too keen on the renaming of the city.In March 2020, the MVA government had cleared a proposal to rename the Aurangabad airport as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport. However, this has not yet got the go-ahead from the Centre.
The BJP has been demanding renaming Aurangabad after Maratha King Chhatrapati Shambhaji.Mumbai: Facing threat to his government following a rebellion in his party, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday presided over a Cabinet meeting, where a demand was made to rename Aurangabad city as Sambhajinagar.The Cabinet meeting took place in the state secretariat in south Mumbai a day after Mr Thackeray took away the portfolios of rebel Shiv Sena ministers who are camping in Guwahati. The CM, who has moved to his family residence Matoshree in suburban Mumbai, participated in the proceedings virtually.A Cabinet minister insisted no political discussion took place at the meet.Talking to reporters after the meeting, Transport Minister Anil Parab of the Shiv Sena said he demanded that Aurangabad city in central Maharashtra be renamed as Sambhajinagar."A proposal will be brought in tomorrow's Cabinet meeting," Mr Parab, a close aide of Mr Thackeray, said.The move comes amid pressure on the Shiv Sena which has been accused of compromising with its core ideology of Hindutva. The opposition BJP has been trying to corner the Shiv Sena, which heads the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, over renaming the central Maharashtra city after Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji.Considered a polarising figure in Indian history, Mughal emperor Aurangazeb founded the city of Aurangabad in the Marathwada region of the present-day Maharashtra. He had also ordered the execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, a personality revered by the Shiv Sena.Fisheries Minister Aslam Shaikh, who belongs to the Congress, said exhaustive discussion took place on the rising COVID-19 cases in certain districts and steps taken to contain them. The rainfall deficit in the state was also discussed, he said."There was no political discussion in the Cabinet meeting which focussed only on the listed agenda," he said.Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, a senior NCP leader, echoed Mr Shaikh, saying no political issues came up for discussion.He said another Cabinet meeting is likely to take place on Wednesday to take up the pending issues.On Monday, Mr Thackeray, who also heads the Shiv Sena, had divested portfolios of rebel ministers, including Eknath Shinde, who has raised the banner of revolt against the Sena leadership, and allocated their departments to other ministers.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe rebellion by Mr Shinde, who has claimed the support of nearly 40 dissident Sena MLAs, has threatened the very existence of the two-and-a-half-year-old MVA government, which also consists of the NCP and the Congress.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
With the battle between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde now virtually a tussle over who controls the “real Sena”, one of the outfits rallying support at the Mumbai end is the Yuva Sena.The youth wing of the party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray as the vehicle for grandson Aaditya in October 2010, who was then just 20, the Yuva Sena continues to be his baby. And as Aaditya takes on the Shinde faction from the forefront, so is the Yuva Sena, with rallies of party workers planned in every ward of the state, leading up to a meeting in the district, and campaigns being waged on social media.One such rally was held on June 25 at Birla Matoshri Griha in South Mumbai, with Aaditya addressing the ‘Yuva Sainiks’. In his speech, he called the rebel MLAs “dirt”, and said their leaving was good riddance. There will be two floor tests, he warned, one in the House (Assembly) and the other on the roads.“They (the Sena rebels) will have to land first at the airport, and remember the way to Vidhan Bhavan passes through Bandra, Worli, Parel and Byculla,” he said, hinting that the MLAs will have to face the Shiv Sainiks.Aaditya is now holding rallies almost every day to interact with cadres that the party is trying to hold on to, and as per the party, has been drawing a good response.Since the Yuva Sena was announced, by Thackeray Senior himself at the Sena’s marquee annual Dussehra rally, with the handing over of a sword to Aaditya, the latter has used it to build a profile for himself, while filling a crucial gap in the party’s support base. The Sena till then (and even now) was essentially a party of the working class, tapping into their fears and aspirations, and moulded for itself a rugged, aggressive image its base could identify with.The Yuva Sena made its space instead in colleges and universities, particularly in the metro areas, and raised issues that matter to youths and students. It also has an IT cell. The cadre is projected as tech-savvy, modern and elite, as compared to the common Shiv Sainik who works at the grass-root level.Another reason for the formation of the Yuva Sena was to take on the earlier party youth wing, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), which was controlled by Raj Thackeray. When Raj left the Sena in 2005, almost all the BVS leaders and cadre switched sides with him, leaving the Sena virtually no presence in that space. The BVS itself had not done much to cultivate support on the campus.With Raj Thackeray’s MNS seeing early success in the corporation and even Assembly elections of 2009, the Sena had moved quickly to anoint Aaditya, who was seen as more aggressive than father Uddhav.Incidentally, one of the accusations levelled at Aaditya, who has headed the Yuva Sena since its formation, by rebels now is his endorsement of “progressive” causes that often go against the Sena’s own core.Apart from Aaditya, cousin Varun Sardesai is active in the Yuva Sena. As are offspring of Sena leaders, MLAs, MPs and others. This has given it a heft and clout which other grass-roots cadres see as disproportionate to its work. The Sena rebels’ list of grievances include the positions cornered by the Yuva Sena in the party.
The Eknath Shinde-led rebel camp has launched a frontal attack on Shiv Sena Parliamentarian Sanjay Raut — the main strategy aide and lead architect of Uddhav Thackeray’s policy to align with the Congress-NCP, terming him as “the agent provocateur who is out to finish the Shiv Sena”. The attack by the rebels on Raut comes on a day when the latter has been served a notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear before the agency on Tuesday.“We belong to Balasaheb Thackeray. We Sainiks of the Shiv Sena who stepped out for a few days have been called garbage and pigs. Those who have been elected to the Rajya Sabha on our votes are the ones that are using this vitriolic language against us. They are now even baying for our blood,” Shiv Sena MP Deepak Kesarkar, who is the spokesperson of the rebel camp, said in a statement.Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday termed the rebel MLAs as “living corpses who would be sent to a mortuary for post-mortem” on their return from the Assam capital. Raut’s statement had received flak from the Opposition and the Shinde camp, which termed it as a “death threat” to the rebels.🚨 Limited Time Offer | Express Premium with ad-lite for just Rs 2/ day 👉🏽 Click here to subscribe 🚨On Monday, the rebel camp stated that since 2014, when the Sena and the BJP came together after a rift, Raut had been “spraying vitriol” on the BJP government at the Centre.“There was a deliberate attempt to create a division between the BJP and the Shiv Sena by constantly criticising Modi despite having representation in the central government and allying with the BJP in the Maharashtra government. We brought this issue to the notice of the party leadership from time to time. However, it was of no use. Every day extremely vulgar words would be used. Even the Congress and the NCP were not this harsh in their criticism in comparison to Raut and the words that he would use,” Kesarkar said.The letter stated that Raut was being given importance even though he had never contested any Assembly or Lok Sabha election. The rebels claimed that Raut was extremely close to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and was acting at his behest. The rebels also accused Raut of creating a rift between Sena MLAs and party chief, CM Uddhav Thackeray.“You can take the Shiv Sena away from the BJP but if you conspire to wean the Sena off Hindutva, we will not accept it. If the Sena is going to be run as per the wishes of Sanjay Raut, and MLAs like us who have been elected multiple times are pushed away, then what are we expected to do? Sanjay Raut is responsible for the widening gap between us and Udddhav ji. The NCP leaders have used Sanjay Raut’s shoulder to fire the gun against the Sena and weaken it,” Kesarkar said.Raut, 61, is a four-term Rajya Sabha MP. Raut, who started off his career as a journalist, was handpicked by Sena founder Bal Thackeray as the editor of Saamana on May 1, 1991 and was made a member of the Upper House in 2004. He has since been deemed to be part of the inner coterie that surrounds Uddhav Thackeray. His proximity to the Thackerays despite not having a political base of his own had left many Shiv Sena leaders disgruntled. Since the passing of Bal Thackeray, Raut is said to have become one of the most important political counsellors of Uddhav Thackeray. He is also deemed to be the “architect-in-chief” who convinced Uddhav to break bond with the BJP and join the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — the unlikely triumvirate of the NCP, the Congress and the Shiv Sena.
Dubbing Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut a "blue-eyed boy" of the NCP, rebel Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar on Monday said when the Shiv Sena-BJP government formation in Maharashtra was a mere formality in 2019, he became "active" with the blessings of a "strong NCP leader" and that he is set off to finish the saffron party. In an open letter, Kesarkar said those who get elected because of legislators are now abusing them every day, an apparent reference to Sanjay Raut. "We are called pigs, much disturbing abuse is coming our way, so much so that our dead bodies are now awaited," he said. Kesarkar, the three-term legislator from Sindhdurg in Maharashtra, also asked Thackeray to reconsider his view and ally with the BJP. He claimed the NCP and Congress are enjoying power at the cost of the Shiv Sena and simultaneously making efforts to finish the very foundation of the party. Kesarkar said the Sena MLAs had fiercely opposed allying with those who have opposed Hindutva, against whom late Sena chief Bal Thackeray spent his life fighting, those who tried to jail him, and those who have repeatedly insulted Veer Savarkar --- not once but again and again which continued under the Maha Vikas Aghadi government too. "However, we followed the path told by our party leader," he said. Talking about 2019, when the Shiv Sena and the BJP were expected to form a government in the state for a second term, Kesarkar said, "Sanjay Raut became active with the blessings of a strong NCP leader. The mandate was for the Sena-BJP alliance. We overlooked Maharashtra and people's mandate by forming an unnatural alliance with the BJP." The Sena later severed ties with the BJP over the post of the chief minister and joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a tripartite MVA government. A large part of the letter mainly dealt with attacking Raut. "It is unfortunate that Sanjay Raut who hasn't been elected by the people, is set off to finish our party," Kesarkar said. He alleged that Sena is being run on Raut's advice and that too at the cost of isolating people like him (Kesarkar) who get elected multiple times. "The NCP fires the gun from Raut's shoulders and who does the bullet hit? Not enemies of our party but loyalists like us. This is not acceptable to us," he said. "If on the advice of Sanjay Raut, the whole party is going to bow on NCP's feet then what is left of the Shiv Sena? Should we let go of our self-esteem to please Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi?" Kesarkar asked. In a video by another rebel leader Shambhuraj Desai, who was the Minister of State in-charge of the home department and other four departments before Thackeray divested him and other rebel MLAs of the portfolios, said the MoS' were for "namesake" with no powers. Desai said all MLAs or party workers thought that their requests will be taken care of by the ministers of state. But the ministers of state can only recommend the works of MLAs and others to cabinet ministers. This was the only work for ministers of state, he said.
THANE: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's son and party MP Shrikant Shinde on Monday said Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal had sent the disqualification notice to his father and 15 other dissident legislators under pressure which is evident from the supreme court order. In a relief to rebel Shiv Sena lawmakers, the apex court on Monday kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings before the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly till July 11 and sought responses to pleas by rebel MLAs questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification. The top court, however, refused to pass any interim order on the plea of the Maharashtra government that there should not be any floor test in the Assembly and said they can always approach it in case of illegality. "The speaker has rights in the Assembly. He has the power if anyone goes against the whip in the legislature. It does not apply to anyone not coming for any meeting. The 'tughlaqi farman' (the disqualification notice) was issued (by him) under pressure and the court has shown that today," Shinde, the MP from Kalyan, said. His father and senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde is leading the rebellion against Shiv Sena leadership and has been camping in Guwahati with a majority of Sena legislators. Speaking to reporters after visiting the 'Shakti Sthal' memorial of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe here, Shrikant said party leader Sanjay Raut should watch his mouth, a day after the latter's "bodies without souls" remarks against the dissident MLAs camping in Guwahati caused a flutter. The MP said Raut should be careful about the choice of words as he is also the father of someone and his family is watching his remarks. "This is not the culture of Maharashtra. The state is watching the manner in which he is passing comments. This happens when one realises that power is slipping out of hand," he said. Addressing Shiv Sena cadres in Mumbai on Sunday, Raut said,"We have learnt a lesson on whom to trust....These are bodies whose souls have died. Their mind is dead....40 bodies will come from Assam and will be sent directly to the morgue for postmortem". The remarks are seen as a reference to Shinde and other MLAs camping in Guwahati.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday said his party is ready for a “street fight and a legal battle”, ahead of the crucial hearing in the Supreme Court against the disqualification notice issued by the Maharashtra Assembly’s deputy speaker to rebel party MLAs.On his remarks made on Sunday that 40 bodies will come from Assam and will be sent directly to the morgue for postmortem, in a reference to the rebel MLAs, Raut said he was speaking about the “dead conscience” of the legislators and that they are “living corpses” now.“I have not done anything to hurt anyone’s feelings. I have only stated the fact that your (rebel MLAs) conscience is dead and you are a living corpse,” the Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson told reporters.“This is a legal fight and a street fight. It will take place and the party is ready for it,” Raut added.Rebel MLA Shinde on Sunday moved the Supreme Court against the disqualification notice issued by the deputy speaker to him and 15 other rebel legislators, calling the action “illegal and unconstitutional” and seeking a stay on it.Raut said the rebel MLAs have to come back to Maharashtra and the real test will be in the state Assembly.“You cannot stop people’s anger. No police or law can control it. Which is why you accepted the slavery of the BJP and got protection,” Raut said against the backdrop of the Centre extending Y-plus security cover of CRPF commandos to at least 15 rebel Shiv Sena legislators.The Sena workers have resorted to protest and even vandalism at some places in Maharashtra against the rebel MLAs.Hitting back at the Shinde camp, which has asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to exit the alliance with the Congress and the NCP, Raut asked how can the rebel MLAs align with the BJP which had tied up with the PDP’s “pro-Pakistan” Mehbooba Mufti in Kashmir, or the BJP government (at the Centre) which was “not aware” from where the explosives that killed 40 security personnel in Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) in 2019 came from.He dared the rebel MLAs to point out one instance where the Shiv Sena deserted Hindutva.The rebel MLAs cannot garner votes using central agencies, the Rajya Sabha member said.On Maharashtra minister Uday Samant becoming the latest Sena legislator to join the Shinde camp, Raut said how could someone be blamed if a senior leader like Shinde, who has spent 40 years in the organisation, felt like deserting the party.Majority of the Shiv Sena MLAs have sided with Shinde and are currently camping in Assam’s Guwahati city, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Sena, into a crisis.
KALYAN: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, around 15 Shiv Sena functionaries from Dombivli in Kalyan resigned from their posts in support of rebel party leader Eknath Shinde on Tuesday. In an open letter written by all 15 Shiv Sena functionaries, they said they resigned from their posts in support of Eknath Shinde. They said that they are with Eknath Shinde, wanted Shiv Sena to walk out from the MVA alliance. Rajesh Kadam, a Shiv Sena leader from Thane district, said, "As guardian mminister, Eknath Shinde has done several development-related work in the district, including in Kalyan-Dombivli and we will follow whatever decision he takes."
THANE: Former Thane mayor and Shiv Sena coordinator in the district Meenakshi Shinde has been expelled from the party amid a rebellion by Eknath Shinde. She was being expelled for anti-party activities on the directions of party president (and chief minister) Uddhav Thackeray, a Sena statement issued here on Tuesday said. Earlier, another former Thane mayor, Naresh Mhaske, and coordinator Rahul Londe were expelled from the party. All these leaders have been actively taking part in rallies and gatherings in support of Eknath Shinde. In another development, the photographs of Eknath Shinde and his Lok Sabha MP son Shrikant Shinde have been removed from the Sena office in Dombivali, and others are expected to follow suit.
34 rebel MLAs had signed the no-confidence motion.The tussle between the Shiv Sena leadership and rebels MLAs, which threatens to bring down the Maharashtra government, moves from the hotel to the courtroom today.Eknath Shinde, who leads the rebellion, has challenged the Uddhav Thackeray leadership's move to disqualify him and 15 other MLAs in the Supreme Court.The Shinde camp has also challenged the rejection of a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narahari Zirwal.The petition seeks directions to the Deputy Speaker to not take any action on the disqualification plea till the matter of his removal is decided.The petition contends that the seat of the Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly is vacant since Nana Patole resigned in February 2021 and there is no authority who can adjudicate upon the disqualification plea.34 rebel MLAs had signed the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal.Here are the Live Updates on the Maharashtra Crisis:Get NDTV UpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops.Jun 27, 2022 15:21 (IST) Maharashtra government informs the top court that adequate security steps have already been taken and it will further ensure that there is no harm to the life, liberty and property of the 39 MLAs and their familiesJun 27, 2022 15:20 (IST)Advocate Kaul for Shinde camp asks the Supreme Court to extend the security measures to all 39 MLAs not just those who received disqualification notices.Supreme Court: Maharashtra government to take adequate security measures for protection of all 39 MLAs and their family members.Jun 27, 2022 15:18 (IST) Maharashtra government informs the Supreme Court that immediate steps will be taken to protect life, liberty and property of the petitioners and MLAs to whom disqualification notices have been sent.Jun 27, 2022 15:16 (IST)Supreme Court: As an interim measure, the time granted by Deputy Speaker to the petitioners to submit their written submissions by 5:30 pm be extended till 11 July 5:30 pm.The petitioners or other MLAs shall be at liberty to reply to the notice without prejudice to their rights pending in the pleas.Jun 27, 2022 15:15 (IST) Justice Surya Kant, on the issue of whether the Deputy Speaker's notice should be put on hold, said, "We need to give reasonable opportunity to everyone. Everyone should get breathing time so that we can respond to all questions on merits. All issues will be determined by us."Jun 27, 2022 15:05 (IST) The Supreme Court is yet to give the order on the 5:30pm deadline matter. Jun 27, 2022 15:03 (IST)Supreme Court issues notice to Deputy Speaker, Chief whip Sunil Prabhu and leader of Legislature party Anil Chaudhary, and Centre on Eknath Shinde's plea on the issue of Deputy Speaker's notice to MLAs and the 5:30 pm deadline.The top court directs to file affidavits within three days and counter affidavits in five days.Rejoinders will be filed three days thereafter.The matter will be heard next on July 11.Jun 27, 2022 14:47 (IST)Justice Surya Kant: The question is the MLAs moved a motion against the Deputy SpeakerRajiv Dhawan for Deputy Speaker: But until the veracity of such a communication is authenticated it cannot be taken on record.Justice Surya Kant: Then how do you ascertain genuineness?Rajiv Dhawan for Deputy Speaker: The letter was not sent from a registered email id. We can pose the question who are you to send? It was sent by some advocate Vishal Acharya ... Just because some signatures are added it does not mean that it becomes a valid documentJun 27, 2022 14:42 (IST) Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhawan for the Deputy Speaker said, "There was a notice by the MLAs which we received. The Deputy Speaker also replied to the notice. It is not on record yet, but we will will place it on record before the court."Jun 27, 2022 14:38 (IST) Justice Surya Kant asks, "If Deputy Speaker is saying that he is rejecting the motion that seeks his removal the question is can the Deputy Speaker be the Judge of his own court?"Jun 27, 2022 14:33 (IST) Supreme Court asks Advocate Singhvi if a Deputy Speaker can himself decide on a letter that is against him. "Yes, he can do that," Advocate Singhvi responds.Jun 27, 2022 14:32 (IST) Justice Suryakant: "The matter was different in the earlier decisions of the Supreme Court. Things are totally different here. Here the continuation of the Deputy Speaker himself is under challenge."Advocate Singhvi: "When they knew that they are going to face disqualification proceedings, what simpler thing to do than send a two line letter against Deputy Speaker himself?"Jun 27, 2022 14:29 (IST) "Judicial review cannot take place at this stage. There can be no court intervention until the proceedings are pending," Senior Advocate Singhv said.Jun 27, 2022 14:26 (IST)The supporters of rebel Maharashtra minister Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar, who is camping with the Eknath Shinde-led group in Guwahati, and some Shiv Sena workers came face to face with each other in Kolhapur district on Monday. However, police intervened and tried to keep the two groups away from each other to avoid a clash, a senior police official said. (PTI)Jun 27, 2022 14:23 (IST) Maharashtra Political Crisis: Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhv appearing for Shiv Sena said, "The Deputy Speaker has the right to take the decisions first. Court interference can take place only subsequently."Jun 27, 2022 14:17 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | Advocate NK Kaul for Shinde camp:➡️We are saying he could not have proceeded with the disqualification notices, that is the bigger point➡️Second thing is there has been undue haste and hurry- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 14:07 (IST) Advocate Kaul said, "It is constitutionally impermissible for him to go ahead with disqualification proceedings if motion for his removal is still pending ... At least 14 days are supposed to be given to MLAs to respond." Advocate Kaul had earlier mentioned that the MLAs were given only two days to respond which is not reasonable time and deadline ends at 5:30 pm today.Jun 27, 2022 14:01 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | Advocate NK Kaul for Shinde camp:➡️Similar cases of floor tests etc. have come to Supreme Court and dealt with under Article 32➡️Minority faction are subverting the right way of doing things➡️Atmosphere not conducive to pursue rights in Bombay- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 13:48 (IST) Judges have said that they are taking a two minute break and have gotten up from the bench. Jun 27, 2022 13:44 (IST) Supreme Court said, "Issue of whether Deputy Speaker cannot proceed or not is what you are questioning? Now the question that Deputy Speaker not competent to proceed against you...why cannot you raise these objections against Deputy Speaker himself?"Jun 27, 2022 13:43 (IST) Bench tells Advocate Kaul for the Shinde camp that it understands that they perceive threat. "We do not have means to verify but your claim. Other issue is you say lack of reasonable time. We see time expiring," the bench said.Jun 27, 2022 13:40 (IST) Advocate NK Kaul for rebel Shinde camp said that the challenge in the two pleas is against disqualification notice by the Deputy Speaker. He said, "It's unconstitutional how the notice was issued."Jun 27, 2022 13:37 (IST) Maharashtra Political Crisis: Hearing begins before bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice JB Pardiwala. Jun 27, 2022 13:31 (IST) Maharashtra Political Crisis: Rebel Eknath Shinde moves Supreme Court with a new plea, says the lives of rebel MLAs are under serious threat from the Shiv Sena cadre.Jun 27, 2022 13:24 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | "67 councillors of the Thane Municipal Corporation are with Eknath Shinde... We've already been to Guwahati": #EknathShinde's brother and Thane Municipal Corporation Councillor Prakash Shinde#NDTVExclusivepic.twitter.com/1EcJpRgM4L- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 13:23 (IST) Following summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Sanjay Raut said that a "conspiracy is going on". मला आताचा समजले ED ने मला समन्स पाठवले आहे.छान.महाराष्ट्रात मोठ्या घडामोडी सुरू आहेत. आम्ही सगळे बाळासाहेबांचे शिवसैनिक मोठ्या लढाईत उतरलो आहोतमला रोखण्यासाठी..हे कारस्थान सुरू आहे.माझी मान कापली तरी मी गुहातीचा मार्ग स्विकारणार नाही.या..मला अटक करा!जय महाराष्ट्र!@Dev_Fadnavispic.twitter.com/jA1QcvzP7a- Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 13:14 (IST) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray hands over portfolios of nine ministers, who are camping in Guwahati, to other ministers. (PTI)Jun 27, 2022 13:08 (IST)A gathering of Shiv Sainiks was held in Gangapur-Vaijapur assembly constituency today under Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire and liaison chief Vinod Ghosalkar. शिवसेना नेते चंद्रकांत खैरे, संपर्कप्रमुख विनोद घोसाळकर यांच्या प्रमुख मार्गदर्शनाखाली आज गंगापूर - वैजापूर विधानसभा मतदारसंघात शिवसैनिकांचा मेळावा घेण्यात आला.@ShivSena@ShivsenaComms@OfficeofUT ji @AUThackeray ji @SaamanaOnline@lokmat@abpmajhatv@TV9Marathi@ganeshwagh4400pic.twitter.com/VTq8knUHv5- Chandrakant Khaire MP (@ChandrakantKMP) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 13:05 (IST) "It is not a rebellion but what the people of Maharashtra want. What does he (Sanjay Raut) mean by 'bringing bodies from Guwahati'? This is not the culture of Maharashtra. He should threaten other people but not us," Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena MP and son of Eknath Shinde, said in Thane. (ANI)Jun 27, 2022 13:02 (IST)🔴 #JustIn | Enforcement Directorate summons #SanjayRaut tomorrow.ED probing Patrachawal Property money laundering case against Wadhwan brothers alleges that a Wadhawan associate, in 2010, gave 83 lakhs to Varsha Raut, Sanjay Raut's wife, which was used to buy those properties.- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 12:58 (IST) Shiv Sena rebel MLA Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde said, "We will win the court battle. My best wishes to Sanjay Raut on ED summons. People of Maharashtra are seeing what is happening, they will give a reply on this. All MLAs with take a decision today and will see what happens in future."Jun 27, 2022 12:45 (IST)#SanjayRautpic.twitter.com/XXtS1yNm2S- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 12:43 (IST) Shiv Sena's newly-appointed Legislature Party leader Ajay Choudhari arrives at Vidhan Bhavan. Supreme Court to hear today the plea against the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Eknath Shinde. (ANI)Jun 27, 2022 12:38 (IST)Maharashtra | Supporters of rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde gather outside his residence in Thane Supreme Court to hear today the plea moved by Eknath Shinde against the disqualification notices issued by the Dy Speaker against rebel Maharashtra MLAs. pic.twitter.com/IHtC3fkpb4- ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 12:22 (IST)Maharashtra Crisis: Petition In Bombay High Court Against Shiv Sena Rebel Eknath Shinde, Others For "Disregarding" DutyA public interest litigation or PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court on Monday against Eknath Shinde and other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs for causing a "political turmoil" and instigating an internal disorder in the Maharashtra government.Jun 27, 2022 12:22 (IST)Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has lost the majority in the house as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the house: Eknath Shinde in his petition filed in Supreme court- ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 11:52 (IST) "Do you not feel any pain while sitting in the Cabinet with Chhagan Bhujbal who had arrested Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray?", says rebel Shiv Sena MLA Subhash Sabne in a video released by Eknath Shinde.हिंदुहृदयसम्राट शिवसेनाप्रमुख बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांना अटक करणाऱ्या छगन भुजबळ यांच्यासोबत मांडीला मांडी लावून मंत्रिमंडळात बसताना आपल्याला काहीच यातना होत नाहीत का?असासवाल शिवसेनेचे माजी आमदार सुभाष साबणे यांनी मुख्यमंत्री तथा शिवसेनापक्षप्रमुख श्री.उद्धव ठाकरे साहेबांना विचारला आहे pic.twitter.com/WAIq6GeMp1- Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 11:30 (IST) Maharashtra Crisis: The cases are listed before a bench of Supreme Court Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala and are likely to come up for hearing after 12-12.30pm. (ANI)Jun 27, 2022 11:19 (IST)PIL filed against Eknath Shinde and other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in Bombay High Court for "neglecting" their official duties and seeking directions to them to resume office.- ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 11:00 (IST)Shiv Sena Rebel Eknath Shinde Dials MNS Leader Raj Thackeray, Discusses Maharashtra Situation: ReportShiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, leading an unprecedented coup against party boss and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, spoke to his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray on the phone, according to reports.Jun 27, 2022 10:40 (IST)The matter is listed as item number 34 on the Supreme Court's cause list today. Jun 27, 2022 10:36 (IST)Maharashtra Political Crisis: Guwahati Hotel Hosting Shiv Sena Rebel MLAs Closes Bookings Till June 30Luxury hotel Radisson Blu Guwahati, where dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is camping along with other MLAs from Maharashtra, has stopped all new bookings till June 30.Jun 27, 2022 10:30 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | "I will repeat it, those who stay in a party for 40 years and then run away, their souls are dead, they do not have anything left in them...I didn't want to hurt anyone's sentiment, I just said the truth": Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut(ANI) pic.twitter.com/fDnLnXBOrC- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 10:29 (IST)With the Centre providing Y-plus security to Maharashtra's rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, the party on Monday claimed it was now evident that the BJP was "pulling the strings" amid the current political turmoil in the state.An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' likened the rebel Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde to "big bulls", and alleged that they have been "sold" for Rs 50 crore. (PTI)Jun 27, 2022 10:25 (IST)Maharashtra Crisis: Eknath Shinde and the rebel camp will be represented by Senior Advocate and Former Solicitor General Harish Salve and Senior advocate and former ASG Neeraj Kishan Kaul. Narhari Zirwal, Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, will be represented by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi will appear for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and Senior Advocate Devdutt Kamat will represent the Maharashtra government. The Centre will be represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.Jun 27, 2022 10:06 (IST) Yesterday, the Eknath Shinde camp celebrated Narendra Bhondekar's birthday "with great enthusiasm" in Guwahati. भंडारा विधानसभा मतदारसंघाचे आमदार श्री.नरेंद्र भोंडेकर यांचा वाढदिवस आज गुवाहाटीमध्ये सर्व सहकारी आमदारांच्या उपस्थितीत मोठ्या उत्साहात साजरा करण्यात आला.#WeSupportEknathShindepic.twitter.com/TxaLOZ4kat- Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) June 26, 2022Jun 27, 2022 10:03 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde calls a meeting at 2pm in Guwahati hotel to discuss further strategy: Sources- ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 10:01 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis Live Update | Sena Rebels Take Battle To Supreme Court https://t.co/S9OLoYAUPYNDTV's Saurabh Gupta reports pic.twitter.com/JgoMDMWOX0- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 09:50 (IST) Maharashtra Crisis: Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi is expected to appear for the State.Jun 27, 2022 09:47 (IST)Guwahati | Rebel Maharashtra Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde calls a meeting of the MLAs at Radisson Blu hotel at around 10 am today- ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 09:24 (IST)Maharashtra Political Crisis: "Powerful Force" Backing Shiv Sena Rebels: Eknath Khadse NCP Leader's Veiled AttackNewly elected NCP MLC Eknath Khadse on Sunday said Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's rebellion against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was due to some "powerful force" backing the dissidents.Jun 27, 2022 09:13 (IST) A vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear rebel MLA Eknath Shinde's plea challenging disqualification notices issued by Deputy Speaker to rebel MLAs.Jun 27, 2022 08:57 (IST) Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde on Sunday tweeted, "How can Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That's why we took such a step, it's better to die." (ANI)Jun 27, 2022 08:53 (IST) Maharashtra Crisis: Senior Advocate Harish Salve will represent Eknath Shinde in the Supreme Court today.Jun 27, 2022 08:44 (IST)#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis | Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the phone twice. Shinde spoke to Thackeray about the recent political situation in Maharashtra and enquired about his health, an MNS leader confirmed(ANI)- NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2022Jun 27, 2022 08:37 (IST)Maharashtra Crisis: "Just Because (Rebels) Have 2/3rd...": Team Thackeray Lawyers UpThe Shiv Sena said it will fight to get 16 of the rebel MLAs disqualified and make them "face the electorate".Jun 27, 2022 08:34 (IST)Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray: Sena Tussle Moves From Hotel To Court, Rebels' Plea In Supreme Court TodayThe Supreme Court will on Monday hear the petition filed by rebel MLA Eknath Shinde challenging the Shiv Sena's move to disqualify him and 15 other MLAs.
Raj Thackeray quit the Shiv Sena and founded his own party in 2006. (File photo)New Delhi: Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, leading an unprecedented coup against party boss and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, spoke to his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray on the phone, according to reports.Eknath Shinde spoke to Raj Thackeray twice and discussed the "recent political situation in Maharashtra" and his health, according to a leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).Raj Thackeray, the MNS chief, was discharged from hospital last evening and Mr Shinde asked after his health, said the leader."Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the phone twice. Shinde spoke to Thackeray about the recent political situation in Maharashtra and enquired about his health," news agency ANI quoted the MNS leader as saying, without naming him.Raj Thackeray quit the Shiv Sena and founded his own party in 2006. Cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray split on bitter terms and often exchange barbs.Eknath Shinde claims he has the support of 38 Shiv Sena MLAs, enough to claim in the assembly that his group is the real Sena.He has challenged decisions by the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker, who belongs to Sena ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including his replacement as Sena legislative party leader and the disqualification notices to 16 rebel MLAs. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions by Mr Shinde and by other rebel MLAs.The Sena rebels, led by Mr Shinde, have been staying at a hotel in Assam's Guwahati since Wednesday.The group calls themselves the "Shiv Sena Balasaheb" after Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray's father.On Sunday, Mr Shinde tweeted that the rebel MLAs were willing to die for Hindutva.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com"Even if we have to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva, we will consider it as our destiny," he said.His remark came after Uddhav Thackeray's loyalist Sanjay Raut called the rebel MLAs "living corpses" whose "souls are dead".
Mumbai: At least 20 MLAs camping with rebel leader Eknath Shinde are reportedly in touch with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, sources have said. NDTV has also learnt that some of the rebels are against a merger with the BJP. The Shiv Sena is planning to take action against Eknath Shinde and other rebel ministers. According to sources, ministers Eknath Shinde, Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse are likely to lose their portfolios. Abdul Sattar and Shamburaje Desai - both Minister of State - are also likely to face action.Despite being reduced to a minority, Team Thackeray has dismissed Mr Shinde's assertion that he will stake claim for the party symbol. In an open challenge to rebels, Aaditya Thackeray asked them to "defect and fight" the elections. "If you have guts, leave Shiv Sena - defect and fight. If you think what we have done is wrong, Uddhav (Thackeray) ji's leadership is wrong and we all are wrong, then resign and face elections. We are ready," he said.Differences have also appeared within the Eknath Shinde camp over plans to merge the group with the BJP. Mr Shinde also has the option of merging with Prahar Janshakti Party, whose chief, Maharashtra Minister Bachchu Kadu, is already camping with the rebels in Guwahati.The centre has increased security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs after cadres loyal to the Thackerays staged protests vandalised the offices of some of the rebel MLAs in various parts of the state.This morning, Sena's spokesperson Sanjay Raut took a swipe at the rebels, camping in BJP-ruled Assam. "How long will you hide in Guwahati," he asked in his tweet which included image of Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, who has served notices to 16 rebel MLAs on the Sena disqualification plea.Eknath Shinde flew to Vadodara on a special flight last night from Assam's Guwahati where he is camping with nearly 40 rebel MLAs. Home Minister Amit Shah was also in Vadodara last night, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.After talks with Mr Fadnavis, Mr Shinde returned to the main city in BJP-ruled Assam. Mr Shinde and the rebels want to ally with their former partner, BJP, which they claim is a "natural ally" of the Sena. "We are traditionally the rivals of NCP and Congress, they are our primary challengers in constituencies. We requested CM Uddhav Thackeray that natural alliance should be done," said rebel MLA Chimanrao Patil in a video tweeted by Eknath Shinde.The rebels have said that they are still with the Shiv Sena and claim that they have a two-thirds majority. Rebel MLA Deepak Kesarkar further demanded recognition of their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb' and warned of going to court if it is not done and denied the role of the BJP behind their revolt.The Shiv Sena passed six resolutions at the National Executive meeting chaired by Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday. At the meeting at Sena Bhavan, Mr Thackeray was authorised to take action against the rebels. His side has also challenged a move by the rebels to call themselves "Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray" in a letter to the Election Commission.The ongoing battle for the control of the Shiv Sena between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde played out on the streets of Maharashtra on Saturday with the cadres loyal to the Thackerays staging protests against the rebels by defacing their banners, throwing stones, and vandalising the office of an MLA in various parts of the state. Comments
Maharashtra political crisis: Around 10-15 MLAs are reportedly with Uddhav Thackeray.Mumbai: Sena leader Eknath Shinde, leading a revolt against his boss Uddhav Thackeray, is likely to form new party named "Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray", sources have told NDTV. Mr Shinde reportedly has the backing of more than 50 MLAs, 40 of them from Sena. Here are the top 10 updates on this big story:In a setback for the rebel MLAs, Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker rejected the no-confidence motion moved by Eknath Shinde camp against him. Though 33 rebel MLAs had signed the non-confidence motion, none of the MLAs submitted it to the Deputy Speaker's office, choosing instead to send it through an anonymous email id, sources said.Another reason for the rejection of the motion, the sources said, was that it was sent on Shiv Sena letterhead. As per the assembly records, Shiv Sena Legislature Party Leader is Ajay Choudhari and not Eknath Shinde, sources added.The Deputy Speaker has also issued notices to the 16 rebel MLAs on the disqualification plea by Team Uddhav. The rebel MLAs have been asked to appear in person or through their counsel on Monday to respond to the disqualification plea, sources told NDTV.Uddhav Thackeray is chairing a national executive meeting in Shiv Sena Bhavan. The Uddhav camp has challenged move by the rebels to call themselves "Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray" in letter to Election Commission.Shiv Sena workers today ransacked the office of rebel party MLA Tanaji Sawant in Pune. Following this, Pune Police issued an alert and directed all police stations to ensure security at offices related to Shiv Sena leaders in the city. Large gatherings have also been banned in Mumbai."The Sena is not finished" and that people siding with the BJP must be questioned, Mr Thackeray said. "Those who want to leave are free to go openly.... I will create a new Shiv Sena," Mr Thackeray had said during a party meeting on Friday.This morning, Mr Shinde tweeted to say that the state government has withdrawn security cover provided at the residences of 16 rebel legislators, including himself, and dubbed the action as "political vendetta". The charges, however, were denied by Sanjay Raut, Sena's chief spokesperson.Despite being reduced to a minority, Team Uddhav is confident that it will in the event of a trust vote. The party also said that the claims by the Eknath Shinde camp that is "the real Shiv Sena" has no merit. "The Shiv Sena is a registered regional party and Uddhav Thackeray is our chief. We have a Consitution through which party president is selected," Advocate Dharam Mishra from Shiv Sena legal cell told NDTV.Mr Shinde, at the centre of rebellion against Mr Thackeray, has told NDTV that he has the support of more than 50 MLAs. "Nearly 40 of them are from the Shiv Sena," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.The rebels are camping at a five-star hotel on the outskirts of Assam's main city, Guwahati. A young MP, known to be close to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is the pointsman, sources said, adding at least three Assam BJP ministers are closely overseeing logistical matters at the Guwahati hotel. Comments