Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that communications have been re-established with Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde. The latter had gone incommunicado and was apparently camping in Gujarat along with some party MLAs after the BJP one-upped the MVA in the recent MLC polls, leading to speculations that the ruling coalition would fall.
"Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government, but the BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh," said Raut, reported news agency ANI. "I have heard that our MLAs are in Surat, Gujarat, and they are not being allowed to leave. But they will certainly return as all of them are dedicated to Shiv Sena. I trust that all our MLAs will return and everything will be fine," he said.
Speaking on the political turmoil, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said that the party was minutely observing the turn of events. "It is a little premature to say that it will lead to any changes. It is a handle-with-care situation. We have to watch it very keenly," he said. Answering to queries why BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was in Delhi, he said it was their tradition to go to national leaders with sweets after winning an election. "Devendra Fadnavis has gone to distribute sweets among our party leaders in Delhi," he said.
The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats it contested in the state legislative council elections for 10 seats, while Congress candidate and dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost, in another setback for the MVA after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month.
Two candidates each of the Shiv Sena and NCP won, while the Congress managed to bag just one seat. Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition.
