Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde’s rebel camp likely to announce new party 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'

Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde has called a meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel in Assam's Guwahati today to discuss further strategy with the rebel MLAs.

File Photo

New Delhi: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is likely to announce a new party Shiv Sena (Balasaheb Thackeray), as per Zee News sources. The development comes as Shinde has called a meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati on Saturday (June 25) afternoon to discuss further strategy. "'Shiv Sena Balasaheb' new group formed by Eknath Shinde camp", rebel MLA Deepak Kesarkar told ANI. Earlier, Eknath Shinde had written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the alleged "malicious" withdrawal of security of family members of the  38 rebel MLAs. 

In his letter, Shinde claimed that the security provided to the MLAs at their residence as well as to their family members has been "illegally and unlawfully withdrawn". "Needless to mention, this sinister move is another attempt to break our resolve and arm-twist us to give in to the demands of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government comprising of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress goons," he added. 

Reacting to Shinde's allegation, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said no MLA's security has been withdrawn. "No MLA's security has been withdrawn. Keeping in view the prevailing situation, the Home Department has decided to provide security at the residence of MLAs to keep their families safe," Patil said. 

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena has called a key meeting of the party’s national executive committee today at Shiv Sena Bhavan at 1 pm, which will be convened by Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. 

Amid the ongoing political crisis, Shiv Sena workers ransacked the office of rebel party MLA Tanaji Sawant in Pune today. 

On Opposition parties accusing BJP for the ongoing crisis in the state, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has denied the saffron party's role in the political drama. "I spoke with Devendra Fadnavis. He said that we don't have anything to do with the internal conflict in Shiv Sena. Uddhav Thackeray & Eknath Shinde will themselves resolve the dispute between them, we don't have anything to do with that. We are waiting & watching," he said. 

(With agency inputs)