Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 25
Amid a midnight flight to Vadodara (Gujarat), rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in Guwahati to meet “senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis”, is running for control of the Shiv Sena and the government. Huh. in the middle of the fight. Maharashtra took another dramatic turn after the Shiv Sena’s national executive today passed a resolution authorizing Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take action against “those who betrayed the party”.
Despite facing rebellion under the leadership of Shinde, who claimed the support of most of the Shiv Sena MLAs, the executive refrained from taking immediate action against him.
It also passed a resolution that no other political party can use the name of Shiv Sena and its founder Bal Thackeray. This happened when the rebels hinted at forming a new party called Shiv Sena (Balasaheb), claiming that they were not joining the BJP.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said: “The executive decided that the party belongs to Bal Thackeray and is committed to taking forward his ideology of ‘Hindutva’ and Marathi pride.”
He said, ‘Shiv Sena will never deviate from this path. It passed a resolution, giving Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray full authority to take action against those who betrayed the party.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat issued ‘summons’ to 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, by the evening of June 27, seeking a written reply on their disqualification complaints. The no-confidence motion against Vice President Narhari Jirwal was rejected on technical grounds. Sources said that independent MLAs have filed a fresh petition.
Amid incidents of violence and vandalism on properties of people belonging to his faction, Shinde alleged that the Maharashtra government has withdrawn the security provided at their residences.
The Aghadi government will be responsible if their family members suffer any harm, the rebels claimed, claiming that the security cover was withdrawn on the orders of Thackeray and Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, who termed the allegations as “mischievous and false”.
“The security of any MLA has not been withdrawn. In view of the current situation, the Home Department has decided to provide security at the residence of the MLAs to keep them safe.
Raut, with enthusiasm from supporters on both sides, said it was just a ‘warm up’. Describing the anger of his supporters as “natural”, he said, “Shiv Sena means Thackeray.” “The party cannot be hijacked so easily. It is made of our blood and no one can break it with money.
Meanwhile, observers believe that the Shiv Sena and NCP are trying to push for a “new assembly election with Gujarat polls” and perhaps even ensure that the high-stakes BMC elections are postponed.
“This matter is not going to end soon, there are many technical and legal issues involved which may take weeks and months to resolve. The Solicitor General has told the Deputy Speaker that he cannot disqualify the rebel MLAs. He can give them a notice saying that Shiv Sena has complained and they should respond. The rebels can approach the court to be recognized as a separate faction. The rebels and the BJP can also ask the governor to choose a speaker so that it can be proved who has the majority.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah also arrived on a two-day official visit to Ekta Nagar (Kevadiya) in Narmada district of Vadodara late on Friday evening.
According to officials, Shah had stayed at Vadodara Circuit House on Friday before leaving for Narmada on Saturday morning.