Mumbai | The Uddhav Thackeray government has accepted the demands of dissident MLAs as the political crisis in Maharashtra comes to a head. The meeting, chaired by Uddhav Thackeray, approved the long-standing demand of dissident MLAs to change the names of Aurangabad and Usmanabad. The move comes as the governor has ordered the Uddhav Thackeray government to seek a vote of confidence in the House tomorrow. The apex court is hearing a petition filed by the Uddhav faction against the governor’s order. The Supreme Court will rule on the petition at 9 pm.
Aurangabad was renamed Sambajinagar and Usmanabad was renamed Dharashiv. The Cabinet also approved the naming of the new Navi Mumbai airport after DB Patil.
Meanwhile, there are strong indications that Uddhav Thackeray will resign without waiting for a vote of confidence if the Supreme Court rules against him. Thackeray is reported to have announced his resignation at a cabinet meeting. In this context, experts predict that the court verdict will be the climax of the political drama that has been going on in Maharashtra for the past two weeks.
Uddhav can remain in office if the court blocks the confidence vote. But if the verdict is reversed, the opinion within the party is that it would be better to resign without waiting for a vote of confidence.
He thanked all his colleagues at the cabinet meeting. He said his own people had deceived him.
At the same time, Uddhav Thackeray accepted the demand of the rebel MLAs but not a single demand of the Congress was met. Uddhav did not accept the Congress’ demand to change the name of Pune to Jijavu Nagar.
