Uddhav now races to save the party as his biggest challenge ahead lies in BMC polls
MUMBAI: In an emotional pitch, Shiv Sena head and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray addressed his Sainiks on Wednesday evening and claimed that he was ready to resign from his position provided the rebel legislators directly asked him to step down.
However, it also became clear that as of Wednesday, the leader of the rebel group, Eknath Shinde, who plunged the Sena and the party-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government into a crisis on Tuesday, did not have the strength yet to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.
A letter by Shinde’s faction to deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal bore the signatures of 34 legislators, of which two were from an allied party and two were Independents. While Sena legislator Nitin Deshmukh’s signature was also there, he returned to the Thackeray-camp on Wednesday, and said that the rebels had forged his signature.
The Sena chief, who tested positive for Covid earlier in the day, discussed the crisis with the Congress leader Kamal Nath and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, and decided to take on Shinde. Sena insiders said that they are prepared for a legal battle as well.
“I am preparing my resignation letter. I will hand it over to those who have disappeared or were made to disappear. They must go to Raj Bhavan. I cannot go because I am Covid positive,” Thackeray addressed the rebels through the virtual address.
Later, as several Sainiks shouted slogans of support, Thackeray moved out of Varsha, the chief minister’s official residence in Malabar Hills to head back to his family home in Bandra, Matoshree. “We have seen several challenges when we were not in power. What’s the worst that could happen? Till the common Shiv Sainik is with me, I am ready to face any challenge,” he said.
Meanwhile, a senior Sena leader said that the party is preparing to tackle the rebellion. “They (Shinde faction) do not have the numbers at present. We have about 20 MLAS. Besides keeping the flock together, our options are to expel some rebel legislators, including Eknath Shinde,” the leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Sena vs Shinde
Sena’s move is aimed at keeping control of the organisation and preparing the ground to take action against rebel MLAS. Sena insiders said that they would continue to fight to keep control over the party as there was a fear in the Sena camp that Shinde’s rebellion would cost Thackeray his hold on the organisation. Shiv Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that the party will fight back. “We will continue to fight it out, what’s the worst that can happen? We might lose power in Maharashtra. We can get back in power but the party’s reputation is the most important thing,” Raut said.
Shinde’s letter to the deputy speaker, which was on the Shiv Sena letterhead, outlined several issues of the rebel camp including ‘great dissatisfaction’ in the Shiv Sena over the corruption charges against Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik. It also said that the party faced ‘tremendous harassment’ from its allies.
United allies
Amid the political development, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies held a series of meetings, both internal and between each other. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath backed Thackeray. Sharad Pawar met Thackeray and assured his support, while Kamal Nath spoke to him over the phone and assured the Congress’ support.