As per the report, more than one dozen MPs from the party have extended their support to EKnath Shinde who is all set to split the party with the support of two-third MLAs.
Mumbai: Amid reports of majority of Shiv Sena MLas crossing over to rebel MLA Eknath Shinde’s camp, now MPs have also hinted to switch over Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray’s side. If reports to believe, the several party MPs has decided to sideline Thackeray family. Shiv Sena has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha and three MPs in Rajya Sabha.
As per the report, more than one dozen MPs from the party have extended their support to EKnath Shinde who is all set to split the party with the support of two-third MLAs. Shinde, who is in a hotel on Guwahati, has claimed to enjoy support of 37 Sena MLAs.
Party MP Rajan Vichare and Shrikant Shinde have reportedly reached Guwahati to discuss next course of action with the rebel group of MLAs. Shiv Sena MP from Washim, Ramtek MP Krupal Tumane, Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde; and Palghar MP Rajendra Gavit have also extended their support to Shinde group. Tumane, however, had earlier denied any such move of joining the rebel camp. He had said that patience is the need of the hour.
He told reporters that no one has contacted him nor he has supported anyone. He claimed to be with Shiv Sena. “Some information is being spread about me, which is absolutely incorrect,” he told.
Extending her support to Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chatuvedi, in a tweet, said, “@ShivSena functions like one big family, more about social bonding for larger good over its politics. ShivSainiks work for respect&honour. That principle has been broken by the engineering of those desperate for power. Hon. Party President has shared his heart out, time to fight.”
Meanwhile, support also poured in for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government from several quarters even as the tussle between the rebel faction of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde continued to engage in a hard bargain. The support came in the backdrop of two MLAs who were allegedly “forcibly” kept in Surat, returned to Maharashtra and pledged their support for the MVA.
Also Read: ‘This is wrong’: Top politicians slam BJP, show support for MVA government in Maharashtra
Reacting to the political crisis in Maharashtra, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “We want justice for Uddhav Thackeray and all. Today you (BJP) are in power and using money, muscle, mafia power. But one day you have to go. Someone can break your party too. This is wrong and I don’t support it.”
She added, “Instead of Assam, send them (rebel MLAs) to Bengal. We will give them good hospitality…After Maharashtra, they will topple other governments also. We want justice for people and the Constitution of India.”
Also Read: ‘Forcibly taken to Surat, over 300 cops kept eye on us’: Shiv Sena leader who was ‘abducted’
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, “If some people want to go out, then they will somehow find reason to do so. Even in governments run by single parties, there can be internal tussles. Here there are three different parties, there could be differences but that doesn’t mean the government should be destabilised.”
He added, “We are in Sharad Pawar-led MVA and are with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. If at all we are not in power, we know how to fight while being in the Opposition.”
