Don’t believe rumours of ministerial posts, says rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde: Key developments | India News
NEW DELHI: After 9 days of intense political turmoil, the ongoing saga in Maharashtra took a different turn on Wednesday, after chief minister Uddhav Thackeray resigned from his post — thus paving the way for former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to be appointed as the chief minister of the state for the 3rd time.
Meanwhile, ousted Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is en route to Mumbai, held a meeting with his rebel group MLAs in Goa on Thursday to discuss future course of action. The Shinde faction will help the BJP with 39 MLAs and other independent MLAs to swiftly stake claim to form the new government.
Here is a look at the most important developments in the story so far:
Don’t believe rumours of ministerial posts: Shinde
A day after the 3-party coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed in Maharashtra, rebel leader Eknath Shinde today held a crucial meeting with other rebel MLAs formulating future course of action.
He is en route to Mumbai to meet with governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, while other MLAs stay back at the hotel.
Speaking to media ahead of his return to Mumbai, Shinde said that there has been no discussion with BJP about who and how many ministerial posts will be there. He added that the discussion will happen soon and warned everyone against believing rumours of ministerial lists.
He also met with BJP Goa state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade at a hotel in Dona Paula.
Shinde, who walked away with 39 out of the party’s 55 MLAs, will likely be appointed as the deputy CM.
Floor test postponed on governor’s orders
The scheduled floor test ordered by the top court on Wednesday was postponed on Thursday morning as per governor’s orders.
In a circular, Rajendra Bhagwat, Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, informed all state MLAs that as per the Governor’s orders, there’s no need for a floor test now, so today’s special session will not be convened.
The special Assembly was scheduled today with the only agenda of a Trust Vote against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray Minister who resigned as chief minister late Wednesday evening.
Governor, Sena war of words over impartiality of deputy speaker
Counsel for Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu on Wednesday exchanged accusations in the Supreme Court after the governor doubted the impartiality of deputy speaker of assembly.
The Sena leader’s counsel AM Singhvi pleaded for allowing the deputy speaker to resume SC-stalled disqualification proceedings against all 39 rebel Sena MLAs to determine who would be eligible to vote in the floor test.
He also requested for deferment of Thursday’s floor test till a final decision in the disqualification proceedings.
BJP holds core committee meeting
BJP held a core committee meeting at former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s residence – Sagar Bungalow early on Thursday morning.
Maharashtra BJP in-charge CT Ravi, party leaders Chandrakant Patil, Girish Mahajan, Praveen Darekar and others were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, All Congress MLAs also met at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan to discuss the present political situation in the state.
Sanjay Raut to appear before ED tomorrow
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said that he would appear before the Enforcement Directorate tomorrow after the investigating agency declined his request to provide some extra time for his appearance in connection with a money laundering case.
The ED had sent him a second summons to appear before July 1, after he failed to appear in his first summon on Monday.
Notably, Raut is being probed in connection with the re-development of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl. His lawyer had sought 13-14 days time to present the documents in front of the probe agency, however, the request was declined by the Agency.
Shiv Sena will come back to power, says Raut
Referring to Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation from the post of the chief minister on Wednesday evening, he said that Shiv Sena will work and come to power “on our own once again”.
“Shiv Sena is not born for power, power is born for Shiv Sena. This has always been Balasaheb Thackeray’s mantra. We will work & come to power on our own once again,” he said.
Raut said that Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have trust in Uddhav Thackeray.
“We got emotional yesterday when Uddhav Thackeray resigned as chief minister. Everyone has faith in Uddhav Thackeray; people of every caste and religion support him. Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar trust him,” he added.
Security enhanced at residences, offices of rebel MLAs
Additionally, security was tightened at the residences and offices of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in the wake of the resignation of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are expected to reach Mumbai today. A chartered flight carrying them landed at the Dabolim airport in Goa on Wednesday night. They are currently staying in a five-star hotel at Dona Paula near Panaji.
Police are on alert to avoid any untoward incident across Maharashtra following the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray, an official said.
(with inputs from Agencies)
Meanwhile, ousted Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is en route to Mumbai, held a meeting with his rebel group MLAs in Goa on Thursday to discuss future course of action. The Shinde faction will help the BJP with 39 MLAs and other independent MLAs to swiftly stake claim to form the new government.
Here is a look at the most important developments in the story so far:
Don’t believe rumours of ministerial posts: Shinde
A day after the 3-party coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed in Maharashtra, rebel leader Eknath Shinde today held a crucial meeting with other rebel MLAs formulating future course of action.
He is en route to Mumbai to meet with governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, while other MLAs stay back at the hotel.
Speaking to media ahead of his return to Mumbai, Shinde said that there has been no discussion with BJP about who and how many ministerial posts will be there. He added that the discussion will happen soon and warned everyone against believing rumours of ministerial lists.
He also met with BJP Goa state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade at a hotel in Dona Paula.
Shinde, who walked away with 39 out of the party’s 55 MLAs, will likely be appointed as the deputy CM.
Floor test postponed on governor’s orders
The scheduled floor test ordered by the top court on Wednesday was postponed on Thursday morning as per governor’s orders.
In a circular, Rajendra Bhagwat, Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, informed all state MLAs that as per the Governor’s orders, there’s no need for a floor test now, so today’s special session will not be convened.
The special Assembly was scheduled today with the only agenda of a Trust Vote against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray Minister who resigned as chief minister late Wednesday evening.
Governor, Sena war of words over impartiality of deputy speaker
Counsel for Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu on Wednesday exchanged accusations in the Supreme Court after the governor doubted the impartiality of deputy speaker of assembly.
The Sena leader’s counsel AM Singhvi pleaded for allowing the deputy speaker to resume SC-stalled disqualification proceedings against all 39 rebel Sena MLAs to determine who would be eligible to vote in the floor test.
He also requested for deferment of Thursday’s floor test till a final decision in the disqualification proceedings.
BJP holds core committee meeting
BJP held a core committee meeting at former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s residence – Sagar Bungalow early on Thursday morning.
Maharashtra BJP in-charge CT Ravi, party leaders Chandrakant Patil, Girish Mahajan, Praveen Darekar and others were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, All Congress MLAs also met at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan to discuss the present political situation in the state.
Sanjay Raut to appear before ED tomorrow
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said that he would appear before the Enforcement Directorate tomorrow after the investigating agency declined his request to provide some extra time for his appearance in connection with a money laundering case.
The ED had sent him a second summons to appear before July 1, after he failed to appear in his first summon on Monday.
Notably, Raut is being probed in connection with the re-development of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl. His lawyer had sought 13-14 days time to present the documents in front of the probe agency, however, the request was declined by the Agency.
Shiv Sena will come back to power, says Raut
Referring to Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation from the post of the chief minister on Wednesday evening, he said that Shiv Sena will work and come to power “on our own once again”.
“Shiv Sena is not born for power, power is born for Shiv Sena. This has always been Balasaheb Thackeray’s mantra. We will work & come to power on our own once again,” he said.
Raut said that Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have trust in Uddhav Thackeray.
“We got emotional yesterday when Uddhav Thackeray resigned as chief minister. Everyone has faith in Uddhav Thackeray; people of every caste and religion support him. Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar trust him,” he added.
Security enhanced at residences, offices of rebel MLAs
Additionally, security was tightened at the residences and offices of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in the wake of the resignation of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are expected to reach Mumbai today. A chartered flight carrying them landed at the Dabolim airport in Goa on Wednesday night. They are currently staying in a five-star hotel at Dona Paula near Panaji.
Police are on alert to avoid any untoward incident across Maharashtra following the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray, an official said.
(with inputs from Agencies)
