Maharashtra Political Crisis: Eknath Shinde moves SC over disqualification notices

Maharashtra Political Crisis: The Central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.

(Photo credit: ANI)

Maharashtra Political Crisis: Amid the political turmoil in Maharashtra, the Central government has provided `Y+` category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently in Assam`s Guwahati, top government sources said on Sunday. 

On the other hand, Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde called a meeting of MLAs at 12 PM in Guwahati hotel, to discuss further strategy, sources told news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, the loyalists of party president and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took out a two-wheeler rally in Mumbai and held protests in parts of Pune against the dissident leaders today. Sena workers and its local functionaries, led by the Pune city unit president Gajanan Tharkude, staged 'jode maro' (hit with footwear) protests at two places - outside Balgandharva auditorium and in Kothrud - and raised slogans against the rebels. The party workers were seen hitting Shinde's photo with footwear. In Mumbai, a large number of party workers, including women, assembled outside the office of 'Saamana', Shiv Sena's mouthpiece, at Prabhadevi and took out a two-wheeler rally raising slogans against Shinde and rebel MLAs.

Stay tuned to Zee News for all the latest updates on the Maharashtra Political Crisis. 

26 June 2022

22:47 IST

Rebel MLAs are 'living corpses': Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday lashed out at the party`s rebel MLAs calling them "living corpses" and said that their "souls are dead". 40 MLAs in Guwahati are living corpses, their souls are dead, ANI reported.

22:05 IST

Shiv Sena supported Dawood Ibrahim: Eknath Shinde

"How can Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of the 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, tweeted Eknath Shinde.

मुंबई बाँबस्फोट घडवून निष्पाप मुंबईकरांचा जीव घेणाऱ्या दाऊदशी थेट संबंध असणाऱ्यांना हिंदुहृदयसम्राट वंदनीय बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांची शिवसेना समर्थन कशी करू शकते…?
यालाच विरोध म्हणून उचललेलं हे पाऊल; आम्हा सर्वांना मृत्यूच्या दारात घेऊन गेले तरी बेहत्तर..#MiShivsainik @rautsanjay61

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) June 26, 2022

22:03 IST

Eknath Shinde camp has majority to face floor test: Rebel MLA

In an interview with ANI,  rebel Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar on Sunday said they have a majority and are ready to face a floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Kesarkar said that apart from Maharashtra Cabinet Minister for Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant, one or two more MLAs will join them.

21:14 IST

Eknath Shinde's supporters burn Sanjay Raut's effigies

Rebel leader Eknath Shinde's supporters burnt an effigy of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in Thane district, Maharashtra, ANI reported.

#MaharashtraPolitcalCrisis | Rebel leader Eknath Shinde's supporters burnt an effigy of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in Thane district, Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/L4aU5Dpwf3

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

19:25 IST

Another Maharashtra minister reaches Guwahati

Maharashtra Minister of Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant on Sunday reached Guwahati in Assam to join the Eknath Shinde rebel camp, reported ANI.

Maharashtra Minister of Higher & Technical Education Uday Samant reaches Guwahati in Assam & joins Eknath Shinde camp pic.twitter.com/M2OXlh3Df2

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

17:27 IST

Rebel MLA's birthday celebration in Guwahati

Maharashtra's Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondekar's birthday celebrated at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati in the presence of rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs, reported ANI.

#WATCH | Maharashtra's Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondekar's birthday celebrated at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati in the presence of rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs#MaharashtraPoliticalcrisis pic.twitter.com/rVq4GTkpGW

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

14:57 IST

Maharashtra crisis: Uday Sawant joins Eknath Shinde faction at Guwahati

Uday Sawant, Maharashtra Minister of Higher & Technical Education joins Eknath Shinde faction at Guwahati. He is the 8th minister to join the Shinde camp: Sources (ANI)

14:34 IST

Maha crisis: Lakhs being spent on rebel MLAs in Guwahati, says Aditya Thackeray

Maharashtra Minister Aditya Thackeray on Sunday alleged that Rs 9 lakh a day is being spent on rebel MLA Eknath Shinde-led faction while flood-affected people in Assam are left to fend for themselves. Thackeray said, "Looking at the last 2-4 days in Maharashtra, it feels that those who left, left for good... the entire country saw that the person who did the most powerful work during COVID19 had to leave his official residence."

He added, "Many people told me that many leaders will come but no one will be like this CM ... Why did rebel MLAs go to Surat, then Guwahati, to break the party? Many MLAs there look like they were forced to be there. 10-15 MLAs are in touch with us and they can vouch for this." He further said, "Lakhs of rupees being spent on our MLAs who were forcibly taken there; Rs 9 For the first time, the Opposition is supporting a faction leaving the ruling party."

13:08 IST

Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray attends party workers program at Kalina

Mumbai | Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray attends party workers program at Kalina, Santacruz pic.twitter.com/UuPzgeusr2

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

13:07 IST

Maharashtra political crisis update

Meeting of Eknath Shinde faction begins in Guwahati hotel to discuss further strategies and legal aspects. Another important meeting could be held later today: Sources

13:07 IST

Maharashtra crisis: List of rebel MLAs who got CRPF's security cover

Ramesh Bornare,Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane,Prakas Surve, Sadanand Saranavnkar,Yogesh Dada Kadam,Pratap Sarnaik, Yamini Jadhav,Pradeep Jaiswal,Sanjay Rathod,Dadaji Bhuse,Dilip Lande,Balaji Kalyanar,Sandipan Bhumare are provided CRPF's security cover: Sources

12:39 IST

Maharashtra political crisis update 

Eknath Shinde camp to approach court after seeking legal opinion on Maharashtra Dy Speaker's decision to remove Eknath Shinde as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. Shinde faction says Dy Speaker should've given at least 7 days to rebel MLAs to reply to the notice: Sources

12:38 IST

Maha crisis:  Y+ category security cover  given to 15 rebel MLAs

Central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs: Sources

Central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs: Sources

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

11:45 IST

Maharashtra crisis: Sena workers hold bike rally to protest against the rebel shiv sena MLAs

Mumbai, Maharashtra | Shiv Sena workers hold bike rally to protest against the rebel shiv sena MLAs outside the Saamana office in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/dIYCdg540H

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

11:44 IST

Maha crisis: Shiv Sena workers hold 'joote maro andolan' 

Pune, Maharashtra | Shiv Sena workers hold 'joote maro andolan' against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs pic.twitter.com/fFvLrtIJM2

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

11:43 IST

Maharashtra crisis: Supporters of Eknath  paint over posters erected in support of Uddhav 

Thane, Maharashtra | Supporters of Eknath Shinde camp paint over posters erected in support of Uddhav Thackeray pic.twitter.com/OdjRWVqpq3

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

11:43 IST

Maha crisis: ‘We will win and the truth will prevail,’ says Aaditya Thackeray 

Earlier, on Saturday, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said the present turmoil in the party, triggered by senior leader Eknath Shinde’s rebellion, is the battle between “truth and lie”. After attending the Shiv Sena national executive, Aaditya said, “We will win and the truth will prevail. This is a battle between truth and lies.”

11:42 IST

Maha crisis: Shiv Sena seeks disqualification of 16 MLAs

Earlier, on Saturday, Shiv Sena has sent the names of 16 MLAs to the deputy speaker, including the leader of the rebel camp Eknath Shinde, seeking their disqualification.

11:42 IST

Maharashtra political crisis update 

For those joining us right now, Eknath Shinde, the rebel Shiv Sena minister, has called a meeting today at a hotel in Assam`s Guwahati to discuss the strategy ahead.

Also, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday posted a tweet targetting the rebel MLAs of the party, in which he said that however long they may "hide" in Assam's Guwahati, they will ultimately have to come to "chowpatty", a reference to Mumbai. "How long will you hide in Guwahati, you will have to come to chowpatty," the Sena MP tweeted in Hindi along with a photo of the state Assembly's Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal looking into the distance.

11:01 IST

Maharashtra crisis: Prohibitory orders in Mumbai till July 10

The prohibitory orders issued by the city police under section 37 of the Mumbai Police (MP) Act in the first week of June, ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, will continue to remain in place till July 10.

10:28 IST

Maha Crisis: Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan leave Pawar's residemce

Maharashtra Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan leave from the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai

#WATCH | Maharashtra Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan leave from the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/qGyPH9tGgs

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

09:42 IST

Maha crisis: Sanjay Raut's jibe at rebel MLAs

On Sunday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut took a potshot on the Eknath Shinde-led faction of rebel MLAs. Taking to Twitter, Raut said, "Kab tak chhipoge Gauhati mein...Aana hi padega Chowpatty mein (How long will you hide in Guwahati, you have to come back to Chowpatty)."

pic.twitter.com/tu4HcBySSO

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 26, 2022

08:43 IST

Maha crisis: Eknath Shinde calls meeting of MLAs

Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde calls a meeting of MLAs at 12 PM in Guwahati hotel, to discuss further strategy: Sources

08:08 IST

Political crisis: Maha legislature secretary asks rebel MLAs to submit replies by Monday

The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Saturday issued 'summons' to 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs including senior minister Eknath Shinde, seeking written replies by the evening of June 27 to the complaints seeking their disqualification. Subsequently, the Sena submitted two letters to the legislature secretariat, seeking disqualification of 16 MLAs including Shinde.

08:03 IST

Maharashtra political crisis: Won't let traitors win at any cost now, says Aaditya Thackeray

We're ready to fight again if you've to power to fight without Shiv Sena. We won't let traitors win at any cost now...after this incident, WB CM Mamata Banerjee & Cong Pres Sonia Gandhi called CM (Uddhav Thackeray): Maharashtra Minister & Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray (25.06) pic.twitter.com/GVr9P44fgY

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2022

08:02 IST

Maha crisis: Many MLAs want to come back, claims Sena

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant claimed that some of the rebel MLAs went to Assam with Eknath Shinde due to pressure and fear and many want to come back. "Some of them (rebel MLAs) went due to pressure & fear, that`s why they were taken so far to Assam. Many MLAs are calling us that they want to come back. It`s Maharashtra`s misfortune that when there`s unemployment and inflation, some people are only concerned about getting into power. Without Shiv Sena`s chief, they (rebel MLAs) can`t even exist, nobody will ask them," Sawant told ANI.

07:31 IST

Maharashtra Political crisis: Assam Minister Ashok Singhal meets rebel MLAs in Guwahati

Assam Minister Ashok Singhal on Saturday night arrived at Radisson Blu Hotel in Assam`s Guwahati to meet rebel Maharashtra MLAs, including Shiv Sena`s Eknath Shinde.

Notably, Eknath Shinde claims to have the support of 38 MLAs of the 55 Shiv Sena legislators, which is more than two-thirds of the party`s strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. It means that they can either leave and form another political party or merge with another without being disqualified from the state assembly.

07:25 IST

07:24 IST

07:03 IST

Maha crisis: Cops deployed at offices of political parties, leaders in Mumbai

The Mumbai police have deployed its personnel at the city-based offices of various political parties and leaders, including ministers, MLAs and MPs, and their residences as a security measure, an official said on Saturday. The instructions to remain alert and to provide security was taken at a meeting chaired by Mumbai Police commissioner Sanjay Pandey. The prohibitory orders issued by the city police under section 37 of the Mumbai Police (MP) Act in the first week of June, ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, will continue to remain in place till July 10. It bans the assembly of five or more persons at one place.

06:55 IST

Maha crisis: Thane district Shiv Sena chief Naresh Mhaske quits

Eknath Shinde loyalist Naresh Mhaske on Saturday resigned as the Thane district president of Shiv Sena in protest against the "attitude" of MVA constituent NCP but stressed he will always remain a Shivsainik. In a letter addressed to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, the former Thane mayor said Shivsainiks are feeling (politically) "suffocated" because of "Rashtravadi" (NCP) in the last two-and-a-half years. "I am resigning as the Thane district president of Shiv Sena but will continue to remain a shivsainik forever," he stated.

06:52 IST

Maha crisis: My fight is for rescuing Sena from clutches of MVA govt, says Eknath Shinde

Shinde's appeal came after Sena workers loyal to party president and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray staged protests against the rebel MLAs led by him by defacing their banners, hurling stones in some places and vandalising the office of an MLA in Pune. In a tweet in Marathi, Shinde, who is camping in Guwahati with his group of MLAs, said, "My dear Shiv Sena workers, try to understand the machinations of the MVA. I am fighting for rescuing the Shiv Sena and Sena workers from the clutches of the python of the MVA." "I dedicate this fight to the interest of Shiv Sena workers," he added. 

06:50 IST

Maha political crisis: Rebel MLAs urge CM to stitch 'natural alliance'

Expressing dissatisfaction over Shiv Sena`s alliance with its "traditional rival" parties, Congress and NCP, party`s rebel MLA Chimanrao Patil on Saturday said that they had urged Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to stitch a "natural alliance". "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 Shiv Sena rebel MLA Chimanrao Patil in a video tweeted by Eknath Shinde.

06:49 IST

Maharashtra crisis: Battle of truth and lie, says Aaditya Thackeray

Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said the present turmoil in the party, triggered by senior leader Eknath Shinde's rebellion, is the battle between "truth and lie". Speaking to reporters after attending the Shiv Sena national executive," Aaditya said, "We will win and the truth will prevail. This is a battle between truth and lies." Aaditya held a meeting with Sena workers from south Mumbai to rally the party cadre.