Maharashtra political crisis: Uddhav leaves CM’s residence, shifts to Matoshree; more Sena MLAs to reach Surat

BJP leader Tajinder Bagga has filed a complaint against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackrey for breaking covid protocol by meeting Shiv Sena supporters while being shifting from the official CM residence Varsha bungalow to Matoshree, after being Covid positive.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has slammed Uddhav Thackeray for being Covid positive and meeting his supporters.

"We were told that Uddhav Thackeray is Covid positive. But he has since met Sharad Pawar at his residence and moved amongst people, who apparently turned out to see him go back home, he shouldn’t have left in the first place. This deceit is what has led to Sena MLAs revolting…"

Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant said that such incidents are not new for them. Shiv Sena will arise again, because of these MLAs there is no Shiv Sena... Shiv Sainik is our strength.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray greets hundreds of Shiv Sena supporters gathered outside his family home 'Matoshree' in Mumbai.

Uddhav's son and Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray also greets supporters and shows a victory sign on reaching 'Matoshree'.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reaches 'Matoshree' after leaving CM residence Varsha.

As Uddhav Thackeray shifts to Matoshree, 6 more Shiv Sena MLAs are expected to reach Surat tonight.

According to reports, 7 rooms have been booked at a hotel in Surat. Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar has reached surat. 1 more has crossed Gujarat border while 4 other are stated to have left from Mumbai.

Two private jets have been booked at Surat airport.

Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray along with his mother Rashmi Thackeray and brother Tejas Thackeray follow Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray as he leaves from his official residence in Mumbai.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with his family left the CM's official residence Varsha bungalow on Wednesday and shifted to family home Matoshree amid chants of "Uddhav tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hain" from his supporters.

Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde with other MLAs at a hotel in Assam's Guwahati. 

As the government crisis continues to deteriorate, Uddhav Thackeray can play another emotional card.

CM Thackeray may go to Matoshree tonight and meet Shiv Sainiks on the way.

Shiv Sena workers are waiting for Uddhav Thackeray outside Matoshree even when its raining in Mumbai.

Three more rebel Shiv Sena MLAs including Gulabrao Patil, minister, Jalgaon Rural; Yogesh Kadam, MLA, Dapoli and Manjula Tai Gavit have reached Guwahati where Eknath Shinde is camping. 

As fast-paced political developments in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in another statement has said that Uddhav Thackeray is the Chief Minister and will remain in the CM.

"If we get the chance, we will prove our majority on the floor of the House," Raut added.

Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat to meet Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray shortly at his Versha Bungalow in Mumbai, as the government crisis further unfolds.

Hours after CM Uddhav Thackeray's emotional appeal, rebel Eknath Shinde has asked him to leave the unnatural alliance for the survival of the party.

Eknath Shinde has tweeted, "It's essential to get out of the unnatural alliance for the survival of the party."

As the Maharashtra government crisis continues to unfold further, BJP leader and Minister of State (MoS) Railway Raosaheb Danve has met Devendra Fadnavis.

Danve said whatever is happening in the MVA government is Sen's internal matter.

No proposal from the BJP has gone to Eknath Shinde, neither any has come from his side. The BJP is in the role of wait and watch. The moral is that if you don't have numbers, you should resign.

Posters put up in support of Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde in Thane. The rebel leader has urged CM Uddhav Thackeray to patch up ties with the BJP and end the alliance with NCP and Congress.

NCP leader Supriya Sule shows thumbs up after meeting with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. The meeting between NCP's Sharad Pawar and CM Thackeray lasted around an hour.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray comes out to greet his supporters after his meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule at his residence in Mumbai.

I am not power hungry. Who has the numbers is not an issue, in democracy one who has the numbers is the winner. I appeal to each of the Shiv Sena MLA to come forward and tell me that they don't want me as CM: Uddhav Thackeray

I am moving out of CM's official residence Varsha to Matoshree. I am ready to resign, I am ready to step down as Shiv Sena president if they (rebels) want: Uddhav Thackeray

My own should have come to me expressed their displeasure over me being the CM... what can I do then. They should have spoken to me first before going away to Surat. I don't have any interest in power: Thackeray

Sharad Pawar, Soni Gandhi trusted me. I have tackled all challenges and will continue Balasaheb's legacy: Uddhav Thackeray 

Some of our MLAs went missing. They were forcibly taken to Surat. Some of the MLAs want to come back: Uddhav

Shiv Sena and Hindutva are like souls for each other: Shiv Sena has not left Hindutva. This Shiv Sena is the same that Balasaheb Thackeray had formed: Uddhav Thackeray 

It is likely that all the MLAs of Eknath Shinde faction can join the governor in the evening through video conferencing and tell the numbers: Sources
 

Shiv Sena Legislature Party resolution carrying signatures of 34 MLAs stating that Eknath Shinde remains as leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party has been sent to Governor.

Chief Minister Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray will interact with the people through Facebook Live this evening at 5.00 pm and give his feedback on the current developments, tweets Maharashtra CMO

Following is the timeline of Maharashtra political crisis till 4 pm on Wednesday.

• Shiv Sena asks all party MLAs to attend legislature party meeting in Mumbai at 5 pm.
• Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh returns from Surat; says he was forcibly admitted to hospital, given injections.
• Maharashtra Governor, CM test positive for COVID-19
• Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweets: “Ongoing political developments a journey towards dissolution of the State Assembly.”
• Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath arrives in Mumbai to meet party legislators.
• Nath speaks to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray over phone, meets NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
• Maharashtra Congress legislature party meets. Nath says Congress MLAs not for sale.
• On arrival in Guwahati, Sena rebel leader Shinde claims he has 40 MLAs with him.
• Chartered flight carrying rebel Shiv Sena MLAs lands at Guwahati. The MLAs include ministers of state Shambhuraje Desai, Abdul Sattar, Sandipan Bhumre and Bachu Kadu of Sena ally Prahar Janshakti Party.
• Shiv Sena MLAs leave Surat hotel, fly to Guwahati in the wee hours.

Senior Congress Leader Shri Kamal Nathji visited me at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai today. We talked about the forthcoming Presidential elections and various other issues: Sharad Pawar

Pawar Sahib said that NCP is standing with MVA. All party MLAs will have a meeting once again tomorrow, Pawar sahib will give some instructions. What will happen next will depend on that: Amol Mitkari, NCP MLC

A chartered flight, carrying Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and 4 MLAs, leave for Guwahati, Assam

Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogavale has been appointed as the representative of Shiv Sena legislature. Orders issued by Sunil Prabhu regarding today's meeting of MLAs in Mumbai is legally invalid, tweets Eknath Shinde

All MLA's from NCP have been asked to be present in Mumbai, say sources

A minister from Maharashtra accompanying Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde and others on Wednesday claimed a BJP MLA has been staying with them in Guwahati. The minister of state for water resources and Prahar Janshakti Paksh leader, Bacchu Kadu, told a news channel over the phone that BJP MLA Sanjay Kute is staying with the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena and Shinde. "BJP's Sanjay Kute is with us. He is accompanying all the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena and some Independents in Guwahati," he said.

Kaziranga is a good place to visit. The area is also receiving good rainfall. Those who want to see nature can go there: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut when asked about Maharashtra MLAs camping in Guwahati, Assam

Cabinet issues and agenda were discussed. No political discussions were held here: Aslam Shaikh, Maharashtra minister and Congress leader after state cabinet meeting

Sanjay Raut told reporters that there is uneasiness among the leaders in the government. He said that no decision will be taken until the MLAs return.

Right now we have 46 MLAs with us, including 6-7 Independent MLAs. Rest of them are Shiv Sena MLAs. This number will rise in the time to come. As of now we have neither received any proposal from BJP nor are we holding any talks with them: Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde to ANI

I'm going to Varsha Bungalow. I'll meet CM but whatever has to be done will be decided by Maha Vikas Aghadi together. Unless the MLAs are back in Mumbai, no decision will be made: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut when asked about speculations that Uddhav Thackeray will resign as CM

Congress and NCP will extend full support to MVA government. I also had a word with Sharad Pawar Ji who told me that NCP will continue supporting MVA...no other intent. I'm sure Shiv Sena rebels will not taint the state of Shivaji Maharaj: Maharashtra Congress observer Kamal Nath

When such a situation forms in any state, Vidhan Sabha is dissolved. Attempts are being made to kidnap MLAs & take them outside. You would've heard MLA Nitin Deshmukh, how was he thrashed, wrongfully hospitalised, teated & injected. He says it was an attempt to murder him: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena's letter 

Cabinet meeting has ended. Shiv Sena has called a meeting of MLAs in Mumbai at 5 PM. The MVA government plunged into a political crisis with a major revolt in Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

Eknath Shinde, Gulabrao Patil and Aaditya Thackeray are not present at the Cabinet meeting. Shinde along with at least 40 MLAs have revolted against the party leadership over the alliance with NCP and Congress. 

Congress leader Kamal Nath meets Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan centre in Mumbai. Nath arrived here in the morning. The MVA government plunged into a political crisis with a major revolt in Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly: Partywise strength 

Scores of Congress MLAs attended a key meeting in Mumbai which was presided over by Kamal Nath. Congress has 44 MLAs. The party has claimed that its strength is intact. 

Congress MLAs attend a meeting

Uddhav Thackeray is currently presiding over a Cabinet meeting in Mumbai. The meeting is taking place amid the worsening political situation in Maharashtra. The crisis was triggered after Sena leader Eknath Shinde and scores of MLAs revolted against the leadership over the alliance with Congress and NCP. CM Uddhav has joined the meeting via a video link, said the CMO. 

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath told reporters in Mumbai that Uddhav Thackeray has tested Covid-19 positive. Nath said he will not be able to meet Uddhav but he will meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar. 

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to resign after the Cabinet meeting today, sources told India TV. Uddhav is slated to chair Cabinet meeting at 1 PM in Mumbai. FULL STORY

How numbers stack up 

NCP chief Sharad Pawar reaches YB Chavan centre in Mumbai amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. NCP leaders Supriya Sule and Ramraje Nimbalkar also arrive at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai.

Sharad Pawar has expressed displeasure over no intelligence on Eknath Shinde flying out with MLAs in his meeting with Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and other NCP leaders in the meeting.

BJP leader Girish Mahajan meets Devendra Fadnavis at latter's residence in Mumbai. Fadnavis was in Delhi yesterday to meet the party leadership. 

Several Congress MLAs skip meeting in Mumbai. So far 36 out of 44 MLAs have reached. Kamal Nath arrived in the city in the morning. Nath was on Tuesday appointed as the AICC observer in Maharashtra in the wake of the political turmoil in the state.

Another Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil has become not reachable. He is the minister of state for water supply and sanitation.

Amid the brewing political crisis, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has been admitted to a hospital after testing positive for Covid. However, he can be reached via video conferencing

Security has been beefed up at Eknath Shinde's Thane house. Shinde is currently in Guwahati along with at least 40 MLAs.

Amid the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government facing a crisis following the revolt by a section of its MLAs, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday said his party is united and its MLAs are "not for sale". Nath, who was on Tuesday appointed as the AICC observer in Maharashtra in the wake of the political turmoil in the state, and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are expected to meet Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray around noon. The Maharashtra cabinet meeting is also scheduled later in the day. The Congress shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and NCP.

The BJP has asked its MLAs to come to Mumbai. The BJP has 106 MLAs. It is also the single largest party in the Legislative Assembly. 

Aaditya Thackeray removes 'minister' from Twitter bio 

Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Patil arrives at the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai. Dilip Walse Patil and Ajit Pawar are also present.

Sanjay Raut said there have been no demands from Eknath Shinde, he has not laid down any conditions. It is not easy for him (Eknath Shinde) to leave the party. Our dialogue is on with him. They will all remain in Shiv Sena and work under Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut said that there is no crisis in the MVA. He said talks are on with Eknath Shinde. "In the morning only, I talked to him and he's a loyal Shiv Sainik. MVA govt will not topple," he said.

Numbers not in favour of Shiv Sena

Can BJP form govt without Sena? 

Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs are staying at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati. They arrived here from Surat by a charter aircraft.

A Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister, who is among the dissidents led by party leader Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday said they do not have any complaints against the Sena leadership, but they have been upset with the style of function of the NCP and Congress, the other two ruling alliance partners in the state. Speaking to a TV channel over phone, Maharashtra minister Sandipan Bhumare, who is among the dissidents, said, "We do not have any complaints against the Shiv Sena leadership. We have raised our complaints with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, that it was getting difficult to work with the NCP and Congress ministers. It was very difficult for us to get our proposals and work requests approved from their ministers." To a query, Bhumare said he was given a cabinet portfolio and was satisfied with it. "What else do I need in life. But, as a people's representative, I need to address the grievances of my people. I could not do it properly because of these two alliance partners," he added.

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday said the party should renew ties with the BJP, as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government faces a crisis following a revolt by a section of Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. Sarnaik, the MLA from Thane's Ovala-Majiwada constituency, has been facing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. He had last year written a letter to Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, saying the party should team up with the BJP to save its leaders from action by central agencies. Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Sarnaik said, "I had first mooted the idea that the Shiv Sena should go with the BJP." 

Amid the political turmoil in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Maharashtra Congress MLAs held a meeting at Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat's residence in Mumbai on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by Maharashtra Congress-incharge HK Patil. In the meeting, 42 out of 44 Congress MLAs were present, along with party leaders Nana Patole, Ashok Chavan and others.

A meeting of Congress Legislative Party to take place today in the presence of AICC Observer for the state Kamal Nath. 43 MLAs to be present in the meeting: Maharashtra Congress Sources

Amid unrest in the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, the Congress has deputed its senior leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath as AICC observer in the state. Kamal Nath is slated to meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. 

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has tested positive for Covid-19. He has isolated himself. 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that rebel leader Eknath Shinde was pressured to go against the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and also alleged that at least two MLAs accompanying the minister in Surat were beaten up by the police and goons under the "Operational Kamal". Raut claimed that some of the MLAs were misled and "kidnapped" to Gujarat. "Two of the MLAs, including Nitin Deshmukh, were beaten up last night. Deshmukh tried to run away but he was beaten up by the police and goondas under 'Operational Kamal' and suffered a heart attack. Some of the MLAs have told us that they were misled and taken to Gujarat," he claimed.

Special Congress party briefing by Ashok Gehlot at 10 AM, today June 22, 2022 at Congress Party HQ. Reports Vijai Laxmi 

Congress in-charge HK Patil will hold a meeting with top leaders of the party at 9 am on the political crisis of MVA. Big leaders like Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole, Ashok Chauhan, Prithviraj Chauhan will attend this meeting.

Inputs from reporter Atul Singh

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has claimed that Goa Sena MLA Yogesh Kadam will soon land in Guwahati, He also claimed that 5 other Shiv Sena MLAs will join him today.

Inputs from reporter Dinesh Maurya

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will hold a meeting with party MLAs present in Guwahati at 9:30 am. The meeting will take place at Radisson Blu Hotel, and future course of action will be discussed in it.

Inputs by reporter Namrata

BJP leaders and Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika and Jayanata Malla Barua are also present at the Radission Blu Hotel in Guwahati, where 36 rooms have been booked for Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde, and 40 other MLAs (from Shiv Sena and Independent).

Inputs by reporter Namrata

Eknath Shinde, the leader of rebellion in ruling Shiv Sena on Wednesday claimed he has 40 MLAs with him. Shinde, who arrived at the Guwahati airport, spoke to reporters for the first time since his decision to rebel against his own party. On late Monday night, Shinde had left Mumbai with several Sena MLAs and stayed at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city.

The Shiv Sena has housed its MLAs in different hotels in Mumbai after its senior leader and Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde rebelled against the party and camped at Surat in Gujarat along with some fellow dissident legislators, an MLA said on Tuesday night. Party MLAs have been housed at different hotels in Mumbai, the MLA from the city said.

Maharahtra CM Uddhav Thackeray will be holding a meeting with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders in Mumbai today at 1 pm. As per reports, Eknath Shinde's trip to Guwahati with Shiv Sena MLAs, and the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra will be discussed. A big decision might be taken.

Inputs by reporter Atul Singh

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has reached Assam's Guwahati, along with at least 34 party MLAs and 7 independent MLAs. They had all left from Surat in the wee hours of Wednesday. 

A Shiv Sena delegation comprising Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's close aides Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak also met Shinde and other party legislators in Surat.

Eknath Shinde was appointed as a cabinet minister in the MVA government. However, sources said Shinde has been feeling sidelined since the formation of the MVA government. His son Shrikant Shinde represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat.

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil claimed that "technically" the state government is in "minority" as Eknath Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs have gone. He said that the BJP was presently in a "wait and watch" mode and added that there has not been any proposal regarding government formation neither from the BJP nor from Shinde.

Shiv Sena leaders met Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly Narhari Zirwal and handed over him a letter requesting to remove Eknath Shinde from the Legislative party leader's post and replace him with Ajay Chaudhary as Shiv Sena Legislative party leader.

• Rajkumar Patel
• Mahendra Thorve
• Bharat Gogavale
• Mahendra Dalvi
• Anil Babar
• Mahesh Shinde
• Shahaji Patil
• Shambhuraj Desai
• Balaji Kalyankar
• Gyanraj Chowgule
• Ramesh Bornare
• Tanaji Sawant
• Sandeepan Bhumare
• Abdul Sattar
• Nitin Deshmukh
• Prakash Surve
• Kishore Patil
• Suhar Kande
• Sanjay Shirsath
• Pradeep Jaiswal
• Sanjay Kumar Raimulkar
• Sanjay Gaikwad
• Eknath Shinde
• Vishnanath Bhoir
• Shantaram More
• Srinivas Vanga
• Pratap Saranaik
• Prakash Abitkar
• Chimanrao Patil
• Narendra Bondekar
• Lata Sonwane
• Yamini Jadhav

3 BJP MLAs, Sanjay Kute, Ravindra Chavan and Mohit Kamboj were also seen with Eknath Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs at the Surat airport, as they left for Assam's Guwahati

Input by reporter Rajiv Singh