Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray left his official residence on Wednesday night and went back to his private residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra. Sena leader Sanjay Raut, however, said Thackeray will remain the chief minister of Maharashtra.
"We will prove our majority on the floor of the House if required," the Sena's chief spokesperson said.
#WATCH Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with his family leaves from his official residence, amid chants of "Uddhav tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hain" from his supporters.#Mumbai pic.twitter.com/m3KBziToV6
— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2022
Earlier, in a Facebook address to the people, Thackeray had said he is ready to quit his post if the rebel MLAs tell him that they don't want him to continue as CM. In a 17-minute-long webcast, Thackeray who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day, said he was ready to give up the post of Shiv Sena president as well if Shiv Sainiks feel that he isn't capable of heading the party.
"Why make statements from Surat (where rebels headed first on Monday night) and other places. Come and tell me on my face that I am incompetent to handle the post of Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president. I will resign immediately. I will keep my resignation letter ready and you can come and take it to the Raj Bhavan," he said.
Soon after Thackeray's address, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar met him at his official residence and discussed various options to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Reports said the two leaders discussed options to placate Shinde, including the possibility of giving him the chief minister's post.
Raut, however, denied this and said Pawar did not give any advice to Thackeray said the MVA will fight the political crisis together till the end.
Pawar, whose party is the second largest constituent of the Sena-led MVA, is the chief architect of the governing coalition which assumed office in November 2019. The Congress is also a part of the MVA.
Shinde, a minister of the Maharashtra cabinet, raised the banner of rebellion on Monday night when he, along with a sizeable number of Sena MLAs, left Mumbai and camped in a Surat hotel. They later reached Guwahati in a charted flight in the early hours of Wednesday.
The rebel leader demands that the Sena get out of the “unnatural alliance” with the NCP and the Congress and join hands with the BJP to form government.
In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, Shiv Sena has 55 MLAS, NCP (53), Congress (44), Bahujan Vikas Agahdi (three), Samajwadi Party, AIMIM and Prahar Janshakti Party two each. MNS, CPI-M, PWP, Swabhimani Paksha, Rashtriya Samaj Party, Jansurajya Shakti Party and Krantikari Shetkari Paksha have one MLA each. There are 13 independent MLAs. The opposition BJP has 106 MLAs.
Shinde on Wednesday claimed he has the support of 46 MLAs and sought appointment with the governor. Reports suggest that an online meeting is likely on Thursday between Shinde and the governor who has tested positive for Covid-19.
