Maharashtra political crisis updates: Uddhav Thackeray moves out of official residence

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said Uddhav Thackeray is leaving 'Varsha', the official residence of the CM in South Mumbai, and going back to his private residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra. However, he mentioned that Thackeray is not resigning from his post.

“Uddhav Thackeray is Maharashtra Chief Minister and he will remain the CM,” said Sanjay Raut, adding that: “If we get the chance, we will prove our majority on the floor of the House.”

Shiv Sena needs to walk out of an "unnatural alliance" to save the party and party workers, Shinde took to Twitter to say. 

BJP leader Raosaheb Patil Danve, after meeting with Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai, said that his party has nothing to do with the current political turmoil in Maharashtra. 

“No Shiv Sena MLA in touch with us. We have not spoken to Eknath Shinde. This is Shiv Sena's internal matter. BJP has nothing to do with this. We are not staking claim to form the government,” said Danve. 

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and Jitendra Awhad arrive at the residence of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. 

He said he would be happy to see a Shiv Sainik as his successor on the CM’s post, adding he took up the post despite his inexperience after a suggestion from NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Thackeray said some MLAs have claimed that they were taken forcibly to Surat and Guwahati. 

CM Thackeray said that he is not afraid of any challenge as long as the common Shiv Sainiks are with him. 

“If you (MLAs) say, then I am ready to leave the CM post. It's not about numbers but how many are against me. I will leave if even one person or MLA is against me. It's very shameful for me if even a single MLA is against me,” said the CM. 

Thackeray said he is ready to leave the official residence of the CM if the MLAs want him to. 

“But when my own people (MLAs) don't want me what I can say. If they had something against me, what was the need of saying all this in Surat, they could have come here and said this to my face,” he said. 

“My resignation letter is ready. I will hand it over to the leaders who have disappeared - or have been made to disappear. They can take it to Raj Bhawan. I cannot go because I have tested positive for Covid-19,” said Uddhav Thackeray. 

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will address the media from Guwahati on Wednesday evening. 

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is expected to shortly address the citizens of Maharashtra amid the escalating political crisis.

Rebel MLAs have sent a resolution carrying signatures of 34MLA, stating that Eknath Shinde remains as leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party, to the Governor. 

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray will interact with the public through Facebook Live at 5 pm on Wednesday. 

Rebel Eknath Shinde took to Twitter to say that the order issued to Shiv Sena MLAs warning them to be present at a meeting to be held in the evening is “illegal”.

“Bharat Gogawale has been appointed as the Chief Whip of Shiv Sena Legislative Party. So, the order issued by Sunil Prabhu, regarding the Legislative Party meeting this evening is legally invalid,” wrote Shinde. 

Stating that the NCP is standing with Uddhav Thackeray, party leader Amol Mitkari said that MLAs will meet with Sharad Pawar on Thursday. 

“Pawar Sahib said that NCP is standing with MVA. All party MLAs will have a meeting once again tomorrow, Pawar sahib will give some instructions. What will happen next will depend on that,” said Mitkari. 

After the Maharashtra cabinet meeting, Congress leader Nitin Raut said that the situation is completely under control. 

“There was no point in holding political discussions because the situation is completely under control. CM (during the cabinet meeting) had a smile on his face. You can understand he's not tensed, so the government is not tensed either,” said Raut. 

Shiv Sena MLA Nitin Deshmukh, who had accompanied party rebel Eknath Shinde to Surat, on Wednesday claimed that some people had forcibly admitted him to a hospital there and he was administered injections though he never suffered a heart attack.

He said he somehow managed to return safely to Maharashtra from Surat and pledged loyalty to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

The party chief whip has warned the MLAs in a letter that if someone remains absent from the meeting without proper reason and prior information, they should keep in mind that action will be initiated to cancel their membership as per constitutional provisions.

Shiv Sena's Chief whip has issued a letter to all party MLAs, asking them to be present in an important meeting that will be held today evening. He has said that if someone remains absent, it will be considered that the said MLA has decided to quit the party voluntarily.

Shinde said that they have not received any proposal from BJP, nor are they holding talks with Shiv Sena. 

“As of now, we have neither received any proposal from BJP nor are we holding any talks with them,” he said. 

“As far as the current political situation is concerned, I would say that we are Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sainiks and will continue to be Shiv Sainiks. As of now, we are not holding any talks with Shiv Sena or the CM. We have not decided on the future course of action,” he added. 

Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde was quoted as saying by news agency ANI that they have 46 MLAs in their fold now, including six to seven independents. 

Maharashtra Congress observer Kamal Nath said that Congress and NCP will extend full support to MVA government. 

“I also had a word with Sharad Pawar Ji who told me that NCP will continue supporting MVA...no other intent. I'm sure Shiv Sena rebels will not taint the state of Shivaji Maharaj,” he said.

When such a situation forms in any state, Vidhan Sabha is dissolved. Attempts being made to kidnap MLAs & take them outside. You would've heard MLA Nitin Deshmukh, how was he thrashed, wrongfully hospitalised, teated & injected. He says it was an attempt to murder him, says Sanjay Raut

“I have talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray and he said that as of now there's no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra Assembly," Congress Observer for the state Kamal Nath said 

41 MLAs out of 44 MLAs attended the meeting here while 3 are on the way. The politics BJP has started is of money & muscle power which is against the constitution. I have seen this a lot...Unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Udhhav Thackeray, says Congress Observer for the state Kamal Nath.

Amidst political turmoil in the Maharashtra, Congress Observer for the state, Kamal Nath said that CM Uddhav Thackeray has tested positive for COVID-19.  Earlier in the day, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was admitted to a private hospital in south Mumbai after testing Coronavirus positive.

“Congress Legislative Party meeting has begun. Cabinet ministers are going for a meeting. All our 44 MLAs are with us,” says Minister and party leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Congress Observer for Maharashtra, Kamal Nath who arrived at the residence of CLP leader and minister Balasaheb Thorat said, “The kind of politics, that is driven by wealth, in states like Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, is antithetical to the Constitution of India. The rise of such politics sets a dangerous precedent for the future.”

Amid the Maharashtra political crisis, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that that democracy is diminishing in country in name of Hindutva, people aren't understanding now but they'll regret later.  “These people (BJP) are doing horse-trading & bringing down the govts while law & order situation remains fragile & economy weakens.” He further added, “They've made a joke of everything. They were hatching conspiracy & were targetting Maharashtra from the very beginning but now it has come to light. PM Modi and Amit Shah should not be arrogant & must run the country as per the constitution”

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has reached YB Chavan centre in Mumbai amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. NCP leaders Supriya Sule and Ramraje Nimbalkar also arrive. Earlier this morning, State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and ministers Jayant Patil & Balasaheb Patil met Sharad Pawar at his residence.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut on 22 June hinted at the dissolution of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly amid the current political crisis in the state. In a tweet he wrote, “The ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra is heading to the dissolution of Vidhan Sabha.”

BJP's goal is to capture entire India.If an oppn party speaks against them, they don't tolerate it.They're walking the path of building an 'oppn-free India'.First they said 'Congress-mukt' India, now they changed it to 'vipaksh-mukt', says AR Chowdhury on Maharashtra political crisis.

Eknath Shinde is our very old party member, he is our friend, we've worked together for decades. It's neither easy for him nor for us to leave each other. I had a conversation with him for an hour this morning & the party chief was intimated about it, says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Nitin Raut on 22 June said that it is BJP's pattern to topple government in the opposition ruled states.

“It's BJP's pattern to attempt to topple govts in Opposition-ruled states ...be it using ED, CBI or any means that can be of help.... by hook or by crook...They are in haste to dismantle govt in Maharashtra, but won't succeed,” he said.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut while speaking to ANI said that talks are underway with MLAs who are with Eknath Shinde, everybody will stay in Shiv Sena. “Our party is a fighter, we'll struggle consistently, atmost we might lose power but we'll continue to fight,” he said. 

A Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister, who is among the dissidents led by party leader Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday said they do not have any complaints against the Sena leadership, but they have been upset with the style of function of the NCP and Congress, the other two ruling alliance partners in the state.

The Shiv Sena MLAs, who have rebelled against the party, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra into a crisis, arrived in Assam's Guwahati city by a chartered flight on Wednesday. 

Speaking to a TV channel over phone, Maharashtra minister Sandipan Bhumare, who is among the dissidents, said, "We do not have any complaints against the Shiv Sena leadership. We have raised our complaints with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, that it was getting difficult to work with the NCP and Congress ministers. It was very difficult for us to get our proposals and work requests approved from their ministers.”

To a query, Bhumare said he was given a cabinet portfolio and was satisfied with it. 

"What else do I need in life. But, as a people's representative, I need to address the grievances of my people. I could not do it properly because of these two alliance partners,” he added. 

Meanwhile, another dissident Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsath told a TV channel that 35 party legislators were in Guwahati. 

"A couple of more MLAs will join us by today evening. We also have the support of three independent MLAs,” he claimed. Shirsath also targeted state NCP and Congress ministers and claimed their "hostile behaviour" forced the Sena legislators to revolt.

After Jayant Patil and Dilip Walse Patil, now Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Patil has also arrived at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai.

Earlier when Sharad Pawar was asked about the crisis in MVA, he termed the turmoil "an internal matter of the Sena". Pawar also said he remains fully committed to the three-party government. He also ruled out any tie-up with the opposition BJP.