Mumbai/Surat. The government in Maharashtra led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is in trouble. Shiv Sena’s senior minister Eknath Shinde and some MLAs have turned rebel. They have camped in a hotel in Surat. The stability of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (AVA) in the state has come under question with the stand of these Shiv Sena MLAs amid fears of ‘cross-voting’ in the Legislative Council elections held a day ago.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrakant Patil has denied his party any connection with the latest political developments in Maharashtra. However, he has said that if Shinde comes out with a proposal to form the government, the BJP will “definitely consider it”.
In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, BJP has 106, Shiv Sena 55, NCP 53, Congress 44, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi three and Samajwadi Party, AIMIM and Prahar Janshakti Party two each. On the other hand, MNS, CPI(M), PWP, Swabhimani Paksha, Rashtriya Samaj Party, Jansurajya Shakti Party and Krantikari Shetkari Paksha have one MLA each in the state assembly. The strength of Independent MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is 13.
Leaders of other constituents of the MVA, NCP and Congress, however, claimed that there was no threat to the stability of the state government. At the same time, Shivseva MP Sanjay Raut said that Shinde has been contacted. He described Shinde as a ‘Shiv Sainik loyal to Balasaheb Thackeray’. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray convened an emergency meeting of party leaders and MLAs to discuss the situation. The number of MLAs who camped with Shinde is not yet clear.
Senior NCP leader and minister in the state government Chhagan Bhujbal said his party’s MLAs were stable. Bhujbal and Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole dismissed the apprehensions of any threat to the MVA government. Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat said that his party is closely monitoring the developments in Shiv Sena and has spoken to the chief minister and if needed, a meeting of MVA will also be held.
