Mumbai/Guwahati: The political crisis in Maharastra entered its second week on Tuesday with Uddhav Thackery making last-ditch efforts to save his coalition government in the state. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, demanding an 'immediate floor test' in view of the political instability in the state.
Here at the top developments in this big story:
- Opposition leader in the Maharashtra state legislative assembly and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday arrived at Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, demanding for an immediate floor test. "We have given a letter to the Maharashtra Governor demanding an immediate Floor test" the LoP said in Mumbai.
- Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met BJP president J P Nadda here on Tuesday amid the spiralling political crisis in the state threatening the three-party Maha Vikas Adhadi government's existence. Fadnavis is believed to have briefed Nadda about the unfolding political developments in the western state.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will hold a cabinet meeting at 5 pm today, informed Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Tuesday. As per the sources, Maharashtra CM and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will not be physically present at the Cabinet meeting today. "CM will chair the meeting virtually and Deputy CM is likely to join through VC as he is COVID-19 positive," said sources.
- The cabinet meeting will be taking place a day after Thackeray reshuffled the departments of ministers and took away portfolios of nine ministers who have joined the Eknath Shinde camp.
- BJP leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday reached Delhi, amid political turmoil in his home state of Maharashtra.
- Shiv Sena denies reports claiming CM Uddhav Thackeray had contacted BJP leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to save the MVA coalition government in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray called Devendra Fadnavis to save the government some such news is going on but this news is only to mislead. Whatever Uddhav Thackeray has to say, he speaks publicly" party spokesperson Harshal Pradhan said.
- Uddhav Thackeray appeals to party workers to 'come and discuss'. "Many of you are in touch with us, you're still in Shiv Sena at heart..". "Every day new info is coming out about the MLAs trapped in Guwahati for last few days. As Shiv Sena's family head I respect your sentiments, get rid of confusion. we'll sit together & find a way out of this ...." he said.
- Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde steps out of the Guwahati hotel, says that he has 50 MLAs backing him, adding the latter "have come of their own accord and for Hindutva".
- Rebel Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said that he had come to Guwahati because he was "tired of the conspiracies of people who are trying to weaken Shiv Sena for the past few days". "Congress-NCP constituents tried to prevent Sambhaji Chhatrapati from getting elected in Rajya Sabha polls," he said.
- "I have decided to go with Eknath Shinde, who's promoting Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva. Anyway, I'm still in Shiv Sena and people of Konkan should not misunderstand the ordinary Shiv Sainiks," Samant added.
- Another rebel MLA Suhas Kande said they had gone to Guwahati, along with Eknath Shinde, out of their own volition. "He is carrying forward the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray honestly," Suhas said. "We request the public and Shiv Sainiks to not fall for such rumours and misinformation being spread," Suhas added.
- On Monday, Aaditya Thackeray said that there are two groups of people in Guwahati. "There is a group of 15 to 16 people who are in touch with us, some of them recently. The other group is the one that has run away, they have no courage and morality."
