Maharashtra Political Crisis Live: Ready to leave MVA alliance if rebel MLAs want, says Sanjay Raut

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi Government (MVA), headed by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was thrown into political turmoil on Tuesday after the rebellion of senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.

According to the media reports, 34 Shiv Sena MLAs wrote a letter on Wednesday to Maharashtra Governor announcing their support to Eknath Shinde. As the political crisis in Maharashtra intensified, Uddhav Thackeray broke his silence on Wednesday and in an emotional address to the state said that he was ready to step down from CM post if the rebel MLAs tell him that they don’t want him to continue as head of the state government.

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 & discuss it with the CM: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

MaharashtraLegislative Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal on Thursday said he has approved the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena’s group leader in the House, replacing rebel legislator Eknath Shinde.

We were trapped and taken to Surat, I walked a kilometre to run away from there. We will not ditch Shiv Sena which has made us MLA: Kailash Patil, Shiv Sena MLA

Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal accepts Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhari as a new legislator party leader for Shiv Sena, rejects Eknath Shinde as CLP leader proposal submitted by rebelled Sena MLAs.

While we weren’t able to meet the CM, people from our ‘real opposition’– the Congress & the NCP used to get opportunities to meet him & even funds were given to them related to work in their constituencies: Shiv Sena MLA’s letter

Despite having a Shiv Sena CM in the state the party MLAs didn’t use to get the opportunity to visit Varsha Bungalow (CM’s residence). People around the CM used to decide if we can meet him or not. We felt we were insulted: Rebel Shiv Sena MLA’s letter shared by Eknath Shinde

Sanjay Rathod, a leader from the Banjara community, – whose name has cropped up in the wake of the mysterious death of social media starPoojaChavan, had to resign as Forest Minister, joins Eknath Shindefaction of Shiv Sena MLAs

I don’t think the Floor Test stage has been reached. Whatever stage we reach, we will speak about it then: Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Jayant Patil

Nearly 100 Trinamool Congress workers in Assam were detained by police after they staged a protest in front of the Radisson Blu hotel where Shiva Sena MLAs are staying.

In the wake of the Shiv Sena-ledMaharashtragovernment facing a crisis, party MP Krupal Tumane on Thursday denied reports of joining the rebel faction led by Eknath Shinde and asserted that he was with the Sena. Tumane, the Lok Sabha member from Ramtek in Nagpur, said “patience is the need of the hour”.

He who leaves the party under ED pressure is not a true Balasaheb Bhakt. We’re true Balasaheb Bhakts…even though we’ve been under ED pressure but will continue to stand with Uddhav Thackeray…When the floor test happens everyone will see who’s positive and who is negative…: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena

I won’t talk about any camp, I will talk about my party. Our party is strong even to this day…About 20 MLAs are in touch with us…when they come to Mumbai, you will get to know…will soon be revealed, in what circumstances, pressure these MLAs left us: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena

A meeting is underway between NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, ministers Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad & party leader Sunil Tatkare. The meeting is taking place at the residence of the NCP chief.

At a time when Maharashtra reels under a political crisis, veteran Congressman Prithviraj Chavan said that ideally the Home portfolio must remain with the party of the Chief Minister.

Nitin Deshmukh, the MLA who returned to Mumbai yesterday and alleged that he was “kidnapped” by Eknath Shinde’s camp said that they wouldmeet Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree.

Three more Shiv Sena’s rebel MLAs reach Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati amid political instability in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra

The ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra has again brought into focus the issue of defection. However, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray perhaps cannot do much as the rebel party leader Eknath Shinde – leading the pack of defectors, appears to have the support of nearly two-thirds of the total MLAs and can escape action under the 1985 anti-defection law.