According to sources, Shinde’s motive behind involving Balasaheb Thackeray’s name is to evoke the emotions of the Shiv Sainiks and pull them to his side.
Mumbai: Amid the ongoing tussle, the rebel MLAs of Maharashtra have named their group ‘Shiv Sena Balasaheb’, said rebel Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar. This comes even as Shiv Sena is holding an executive meeting in Mumbai led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Kesarkar’s announcement came a day after the rebel camp had written a letter to acting Speaker Narhari Zirwal saying that Eknath Shinde will be the elected leader in the state Assembly.
Also Read: Provide security to families of MLAs, Eknath Shinde writes letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray
According to sources, Shinde’s motive behind involving Balasaheb Thackeray’s name is to evoke the emotions of the Shiv Sainiks and pull them to his side. However, that seems to have little effect at least as of now as several Shiv Sainiks were seen vandalising offices of the rebel MLAs across the state.
The protest against the rebel MLAs had started a few days back but gathered steam in the last two days when more MLAs started joining the rebel camps. On Friday, the Maharashtra Police put all police stations on alert after receiving intel that Shiv Sainiks in large numbers will descend on to the streets to protest against the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde.
Shiv Sena party workers on Saturday vandalised the office of the rebel MLA Tanaji Sawant in the Balaji area of Katraj in Pune. Tanaji Sawant is among the MLAs who have revolted against Uddhav Thackeray and is currently camping at Raddison Blu hotel in Guwahati.
Also Read: Maharashtra political turmoil: Shiv Sena workers vandalise office of rebel MLA Tanaji Sawant
Party leader Sanjay Raut said that they will sit together at a meeting, discuss the party’s expansion and its future. He also said that the party cannot be hijacked as it’s very big. “It has been been made with our blood. Several sacrificed to make it. No one can break it with money,” Raut said.
