Mumbai/Guwahati: Rebel Shiv Sena leaders unanimously chose dissident MLA Eknath Shinde as their leader on Thursday at the Guwahati hotel where they're currently camping. In a video, the MLAs were seen introducing and passing the resolution by a show of hands. This comes in the background of a large-scale instability in Maharashtra politics.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut made a cryptic tweet in favour of negotiations, saying the 'doors of the house' would always remain open. "Discussions can lead the way. There can be a discussion. The doors of the house are open. Why do you wander in the forest? Let's decide with self-respect rather than slavery! Jai Maharashtra!" read the rough translation of Raut's tweet in Marathi.
Raut had asked the MLAs not to communicate from Guwahati. "They should come back to Mumbai and discuss all this with CM. We are ready to consider exiting out of MVA if this is the will of all MLAs, but for that, they have to come here and discuss it with the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray," he said.
Meanwhile, a senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said that Shiv Sena could go on the path of separating itself from the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) if it wished to, as he noted "everyone can go on their own path". "If what Sanjay Raut said is correct...if they (Shiv Sena) want to go on that path (exit MVA) then they should talk to our leader NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Nobody can stop them, every party can go on their own path" Bhujbal said.
This follows a statement by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge earlier in the day, who noted that "My party will stand with Maha Vikas Aghadi and we want to work together. The present Maharashtra govt is doing developmental work in the state. BJP trying to destabilise the Maharashtra govt. They did the same in the past too in Karnataka, MP, Goa".
Also read: NCP behind Shiv Sena, Raut for floor test: Shinde's rebellion leads to Maha battle
MLA Nitin Deshmukh said on Thursday that he was 'forcibly taken to Surat', and denied any prior knowledge of the 'rebellion'. Deshmukh, who returned to Maharashtra, noted that the Surat Police caught him after "I tried to run away". "Despite having no complications, doctors told me that I had a heart attack. 300-350 police personnel were keeping an eye on us," the MLA said.
He further noted that the group got to know about the "conspiracy against the MVA govt" as soon as they reached the hotel in Surat. This was followed by photos of a smiling and seemingly content Deshmukh being released later in the day by the Guwahati camp. Meanwhile, the Congress party called a meeting in Sahyadri guest house in Mumbai after Raut's remark regarding considering leaving the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) if all MLAs wanted that.
"MLAs should not communicate from Guwahati, they should come back to Mumbai and discuss all this with CM. We are ready to consider exiting out of MVA if this is the will of all MLAs, but for that, they have to come here and discuss it with the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray" Raut said earlier in the day. (Agency inputs)
