Maharashtra crisis: Uddhav, Sharad huddle to keep govt afloat, Shiv Sena calls national committee meeting

After addressing the district chiefs of Shiv Sena on Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of the party's national executive committee tomorrow at 1 pm.  The meeting will be held in Shiv Sena Bhavan in which Chief Minister will join virtually.

(With inputs from ANI)

Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav on Friday asked party leader Sanjay Raut to communicate with the rebel legislators instead of "challenging" them.

"Communicate with the rebels, find out if their grievances are genuine. Differences can be resolved through communication," Jadhav, MLA from Chiplun, told reporters.

Maharashtra Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni has been summoned by Deputy Speaker Narhari Jhirwal in Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan. He will be consulted on the course of action against the rebel MLAs, before taking any decision.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has called for a meeting at 1 pm on Saturday. All Sena national executives are likely to attend the meeting at Sena Bhavan in Mumbai.

Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis will start meeting BJP allies from Saturday, RPI President Ramdas Athawale will meet Fadnavis tomorrow at Sagar Bungalow.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday told the state administration that important development works related to the welfare of people shouldn't be held up due to the ongoing political crisis in the state. The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition plunged into crisis on Tuesday last when a group of Shiv Sena MLAs, led by cabinet minister Eknath Shinde, rebelled against the party leadership. The NCP and Congress are also part of the governing bloc.

"Don't hold up important development works related to the welfare of people. Get in touch with me directly," Thackeray said during a review meeting attended by divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners and secretaries of government departments at the state secretariat.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, state cabinet minister Jayant Patil and party leader Praful Patel arrive at Matoshree (Thackeray residence) in Mumbai. 

Shiv Sena workers on Friday vandalized a board outside the office of party MLA Mangesh Kudalkar who is part of the group of rebel legislators led by senior Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde, police said.

Kudalkar represents the Kurla assembly constituency in the city. He is camping in Guwahati along with Shinde and other Sena MLAs who have rebelled against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

All Police stations in Maharashtra, especially those in Mumbai, have been ordered to remain on high alert. Cops received information that Shiv Sainiks may take to the streets in large numbers. 

The Assam unit of Congress on Friday staged demonstrations near a luxury hotel where rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other Maharashtra MLAs accompanying him are staying demanding that they leave the state as it is reeling under a devastating flood. 

Assam Congress chief Bhupen Bora also wrote a letter to Shinde telling him that their presence at such a critical juncture has "defamed" the state.  Congress leaders were not allowed to enter the hotel and a police official deployed there was requested to hand over the letter to the Sena leader.

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party said that it has no relation to the current situation and that this matter is about Shiv Sena. They added that "BJP will not topple this government, it will fall due to discord".

(With inputs from Sandeep Choudhary) 

The common people of Maharashtra common people are with CM Uddhav Thackeray and the MVA government, says NNCP leader Vidya Chavan.  "On Thursday, Sharad Pawar said that we are together. It's impossible to break the MVA government. I want to tell the Modi government that Maharashtra will never bow down before Delhi and will fight till the end," added the leader.

In the midst of the political turmoil in Maharashtra, a man from Beed district has written to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, seeking that he be made the acting chief minister of the state. 

The Shiv Sena-led MVA dispensation is currently facing a survival crisis due to a rebellion by Sena minister Eknath Shinde, who is camping in Guwahati along with 37 Sena legislators and 10 independents.  Shrikant Gadale, a resident of Dahifal (Wadmauli) in Kej tehsil, has written a letter to the governor and has submitted the same at the district collector's office.

Minister of State, Rajesh Kshirsagar, also joined the Eknath Shinde team. Rajesh Kshir Sagar reached Guwahati on Friday morning. 

While addressing MLAs on Friday, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said he is not greedy for power and that he left CM's residence for Matoshree in the rains. He added that rebel MLAs were lured to the other side by greed. 

Assam BJP MLA Taranga Gogoi arrives at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati. Rebel Maharashtra MLAs are staying at the hotel. 

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde left Guwahati today afternoon to reach Mumbai. The development came after  Sena MP Sanjay Raut challenged the rebel camp to come to the city earlier today. 

City police commissioner Sanjay Pandey met CM Thackeray at Matoshree to discuss the law and order situation.

In the wake of Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde's rebellion, MP Sanjay Raut on Friday admitted that the party's numbers in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly have dwindled, but expressed confidence that the rebel MLAs will support the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine during the floor test, saying that "figures can change any time".

Another Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande left for Guwahati from Surat.

- Reports Nirnay Kapoor (India TV)

As the state political crisis entered the fourth day, both the Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Minister Eknath Shinde have launched stronger steps to browbeat each other. The Shiv Sena has filed a petition with Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, seeking to disqualify 12 MLAs supporting Shinde's rebellion.

As the political crisis entered the fourth day, the rebel Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde claimed the support of "40-plus MLAs", besides around 12 independents and smaller parties, on Friday.

With the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seeking cancellation of membership of several rebel MLAs, minister Eknath Shinde, who has spearheaded the revolt against the party, has claimed that the group led by him is the "real Shiv Sena", and also hit back saying he and his supporters will not be intimidated by the disqualification threats. In a series of tweets posted late Thursday night, Shinde who is camping in Guwahati along with 37 Sena legislators and 10 independents, said as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, a party whip is issued for the legislature proceedings and not for attending a meeting. The Shiv Sena led by Thackeray has sought the disqualification of 12 legislators from the Shinde camp for not attending the legislature party meeting on Wednesday.

Eknath Shinde is appearing to be holding a tight grip on the Shiv Sena, as the strength of MLAs supporting him is expected to cross 50 as more legislators are likely to reach Guwahati on Friday thus further deepening the political crisis in Maharashtra. 

Shiv Sena has convened a meeting of the party's district presidents today. The meeting will be presided over by party supremo and CM Uddhav Thackeray at Shiv Sena Bhawan in Mumbai around noon.

"A central minister of the BJP has said that if attempts are made to save MVA govt, then Sharad Pawar will not be allowed to go home. Whether or not the MVA govt survives, use of such language for Sharad Pawar is not acceptable," tweets Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

Rebel leader Eknath Shinde has hit back at the Shiv Sena after the party on Thursday wrote to the Maharashtra Assembly deputy speaker seeking the disqualification of 12 rebel MLAs.