Live: Shiv Sena must walk out of 'unnatural alliance', says rebel Shinde

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9:07 PM

Shiv Sena must walk out of unnatural alliance: Eknath Shinde

Rebel leader Eknath Shinde says Shiv Sena must walk out of "unnatural alliance" to save party and party workers, referring to the his party’s government along with Congress and NCP. “In the last two years under the MVA government, only the coalition partners benefitted while the Shiv Sainiks were left frustrated. While our allies gained strength the Shiv Sena and Sainiks were deliberately weakened. For ensuring the survival of the party and Sainiks, it is necessary to step out of this unnatural alliance. It is time to take a decision for the greater good of Maharashtra,” he said on Twitter, writing in Marathi.

7:09 PM

'Why make statements from Surat and other places,' Thackeray tells rebels

"Why make statements from Surat and other places? Come and tell me to my face that I am incompetent to handle the posts of chief minister and Shiv Sena president. I will resign immediately. I will keep my resignation letter ready and you can come and take it to Raj Bhavan," Uddhav Thackeray said in more than a 15-minute speech broadcast on Facebook.

6:53 PM

Shiv Sena will survive: Congress leader

6:42 PM

Shiv Sena MLA Kesarkar says he wants party to resume alliance with BJP

Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar says he supports rebel leader Eknath Shinde’s demand to form the Maharashtra government in an alliance with the BJP. Kesarkar added that he was still in party president Uddhav Thackeray’s camp, reports Indian Express.

6:39 PM

Sharad Pawar meets Uddhav Thackeray

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, along with his party leaders' Jayant Patil and Supriya Sule, is meeting Uddhav Thackeray amid a political crisis in Maharashtra, reports NDTV.

 

6:02 PM

Ready to quit if there is an official statement from rebel MLAs: Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Wednesday he is ready to resign if there is an official statement from MLAs who have revolted against him. "I will give my resignation letter is they come before me and ask for it," said Thackeray in a Facebook broadcast, referring to the political crisis created by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's rebellion.

 

5:58 PM

If my own people don't want me, what can be done: Uddhav Thackeray

If my own people don't want me, what can be done: Uddhav Thackeray
 
"If NCP and Congress say they don't want me is acceptable and expected. But, if my own people don't want me, what can be done?" says Uddhav Thackeray, referring to rebellion in his party.

5:55 PM

I didn't yearn for chief minister's post: Uddhav

I didn't yearn for chief minister's post--it came to me accidentally: Uddhav Thackeray

5:55 PM

I am ready to quit any time: Uddhav Thackeray

I will be happy if some other Shiv Sainik becomes chief minister. It doesn’t have to be me. I am ready to quit any time; positions come and go: Uddhav Thackeray

5:50 PM

I am not somebody who is going to fight for a chair: Uddhav

I am not somebody who is going to fight for a chair (CM's post): Uddhav Thackeray

5:49 PM

Congress and NCP leaders called me: Uddhav Thackeray

Congress leader Kamal Nath and NCP’s Sharad Pawar called me this morning: Uddhav Thackeray

5:48 PM

I have fulfilled my responsibility: Uddhav Thackeray

I have fulfilled my responsibility as chief minister to the best of my abilities. I have kept by promise to Shiv Sena: Uddhav Thackeray

5:44 PM

Shiv Sena is never going to leave Hindutva: Uddhav

Shiv Sena is never going to leave Hindutva, says Uddhav Thackeray

5:34 PM

Thackeray's office says he will speak shortly

5:29 PM

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde likely to address press conference

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is likely to address a press conference at 7pm, multiple reports say. As many as 34 Shiv Sena MLAs, who are part of the breakaway faction, have passed a resolution appointing Shinde as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature party. 

5:06 PM

34 Shiv Sena MLA declare Eknath Shinde as party's leader in House

At least 34 Shiv Sena MLAs have passed a resolution appointing Eknath Shinde as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature party, the Indian Express reports. “There is enormous discontent that amongst the cadre of the party viz. Shiv Sena for forming the government with NCP and Indian National Congress who are ideologically opposed to out party,” said the resolution, referring to their party’s alliance.

4:55 PM

Thackeray to speak on Facebook live

Uddhav Thackeray is going to speak soon via a Facebook broadcast. He tested postive for Covid-19 this morning but was found negative later, reports NDTV channel.

4:43 PM

Uddhav Thackeray to speak to party MLAs at 5pm

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will speak to Shiv Sena MLAs at 5pm as rebel leader Eknath Shinde puts his government on the brink. Thackeray tested positive for Covid today and will speak to party MLAs via video

4:03 PM

Maharashtra BJP chief flies to Guwahati

A chartered flight, carrying Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and 4 MLAs, leaves for Guwahati where rebel Shiv Sena MLAs are staying in a five start hotel.

3:47 PM

Shiv Sena issues whip to attend meeting this evening

3:18 PM

Missing' Shiv Sena MLA returns from Surat, says he was forcibly admitted to hospital

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 had not suffered a heart attack. The Akola MLA pledged loyalty to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

3:13 PM

Sonia Gandhi writes to ED, seeks more time to appear before agency

Congress president Sonia Gandhi writes to the Enforcement Directorate seeking time to appear before the federal agency that has summoned her in a money laundering case, says party leader Jairam Ramesh on Twitter.

2:09 PM

As of now we have neither received any proposal from BJP: Eknath Shinde

Right now we have 46 MLAs with us, including 6-7 Independent MLAs. Rest of them are Shiv Sena MLAs. This number will rise in the time to come. As of now we have neither received any proposal from BJP nor are we holding any talks with them: Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde to ANI

 

2:08 PM

They (BJP) used to talk about 'one rank, one pension, but now there's 'no rank & no pension': Rahul Gandhi

They (BJP) used to talk about 'one rank, one pension, but now there's 'no rank & no pension'. The young will toil hard and will go back to their homes. Once they retire, they won't get any employment: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

 

2:08 PM

When such a situation forms in any state, Vidhan Sabha is dissolved: Sanjay Raut

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

 

2:07 PM

ED and such agencies don't affect me; Rahul Gandhi

ED and such agencies don't affect me, even the officers who interrogated me understood that a leader of the Congress party can't be scared and suppressed: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

 

12:56 PM

Maharashtra CM tests positive for Covid

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has tested positive for coronavirus.

12:14 PM

Sanjay Raut hints at the dissolution of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut hints at the dissolution of #Maharashtra Legislative Assembly amid the current political crisis in the state.

 

He tweets, "The ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra is heading to the dissolution of Vidhan Sabha."

10:54 AM

155 killed in earthquake in Afghanistan: Report

Afghanistan state-run news agency reports at least 155 killed in earthquake in country's eastern Paktika province, reports AP.

10:31 AM

Congress party called its MLAs from various states to AICC HQ in Delhi

Congress party called its MLAs from various states to AICC HQ in Delhi. They will be doing a satyagraha against the ED questioning of Rahul Gandhi and Agnipath Scheme at 24 Akbar Road, today