MUMBAI: As many as 20 MLAs from the opposition camp are reportedly in constant touch with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray as his party continues to try to weaken the opposition in the event of a no – confidence vote. Some opposition MLAs are opposed to merging with the BJP as the opposition leader Eknath Shinde wants. Another way forward is to form an alliance with the Prahar Janashakti Party. Prachar Janashakti party leader and minister Bachchu Kadu has arrived at the rebel camp and is coordinating activities, but the move has not received much support from the rebels, the report said.
Opposition MLA Deepak Kesarkar had said that he had not left the party and would form a new faction called the Shiv Sena (Balasaheb). The general consensus of the rebels is to move forward after devising plans to circumvent the constitutional and legal moves calculated by the Mahavikas Aghadi (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress) government. The Legislative Secretariat has issued notices to 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, asking them to state their reasons for disqualification.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut MP had said that a compromise was being reached with 20 rebel MLAs. The move is to bring Uddhav Thackeray to the camp by conciliation. According to national media reports, Uddhav Thackeray’s party plans to camp at a hotel in Guwahati where the rebels are camping, and Shiv Sena leaders have sent an e – mail to hotel officials to book a room here. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena minister Uday Sawant also left the party.
Uddhav Thackeray has challenged dissident MLAs to resign and contest the elections. Eknath Shinde, Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhoos, Shambhuraj Desai and Abdul Sattar are likely to lose their portfolios. The Shiv Sena has also decided to approach the Election Commission to stop the use of the name of Bal Thackeray, the founder of the Shiv Sena and the father of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in favor of Shinde.
The ruling party also benefited from its strong resistance to the symbolism. Uddhav Thackeray said that even if the rebels got flowers and fruits, they would not be able to uproot the Shiv Sena tree. Earlier in the day, Sanjay Raut MP had questioned how long the rebels could be hiding in a camp in Guwahati.
Eknath Shinde, who arrived in Gujarat on a special flight from Assam, was reportedly in talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP’s insistence that the government should not be formed without proper assurances, overcoming legal hurdles, has slowed down the revolt. The BJP had expressed support for the move to form a separate bloc in the Assembly.
English Summary: 20 Rebels In Touch Says Team Thackeray, Minister Switches Sides
