Maharashtra political crisis: I have 40 MLAs with me, says Eknath Shinde

Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra Eknath Shinde the leader of rebellion in ruling Shiv Sena on Wednesday claimed he has 40 MLAs with himShinde who arrived at the Guwahati airport spoke to reporters for the first time since his decision to rebel against his own partyOn late Monday night Shinde had left Mumbai with several Sena MLAs and stayed at a hotel in Gujarats Surat city However after holding talks with BJP leaders he decided to shift to GuwahatiHere 40 MLAs are with me Additional 10 MLAs will join me soon I do not want to criticise any one We are keen on continuing the Sena founded by late Balasaheb Thackeray Shinde saidWATCH A total of 40 Shiv Sena MLAs are present here We will carry Balasaheb Thackerays Hindutva said Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde after arriving in Guwahati Assam pictwittercomYpSrGbJvdtmdash ANI ANI June 22 2022The Shiv Sena MLAs were received by BJP MLA Sushanta Borgohain and BJP MP Pallab Lochan Das at Guwahati airportI came to receive them Shiv Sena MLAs from Surat Gujarat I have not counted how many MLAs have arrived I came here for personal relations They have not disclosed any program Borgohain saidI came to receive them Shiv Sena MLAs from Surat Gujarat I have not counted how many MLAs have arrived I came here for personal relations They have not disclosed any program BJP MLA Sushanta Borgohain in Guwahati Assam pictwittercomg7litKLwzMmdash ANI ANI June 22 2022Shinde along with other Shiv Sena legislatures were staying in a hotel in Surat following the crossvoting in Maharashtra Legislative Council MLC polls and took flight earlier today to reach GuwahatiA group of Maharshtra MLAs led by dissident Shiv Sena dissident leader Eknath Shinde reached Guwahati on Wednesday morning and were taken to a luxury hotel on the outskirts of the city amid tight securitySpeaking to media persons at the Surat airport here before leaving for Guwahati Shinde said that they have not left Balasaheb Thackerays Shiv SenaWe have not left Balasaheb Thackerays Shiv Sena and will not leave it We have been following Balasahebs Hindutva and will carry it further he saidThis comes after suspected crossvoting in Maharashtra Legislative Council MLC elections in which the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP bagged five seats in a major blow to the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA alliance government The Nationalist Congress Party NCP and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Legislative Council that went to the polls on MondayAfter the MLC elections Shinde along with some other Shiv Sena MLAs who were staying at Le Meridien hotel in Surat A Shiv Sena delegation comprising Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays close aides Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak also met Shinde and other party legislators in SuratThe revolt in the Shiv Sena has given rise to speculations that Shinde along with other MLAs might join the BJP in a bid to topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA governmentShiv Sena has 56 MLAs in Maharashtra legislative assembly which has joined hands with NCP and Congress post 2019 assembly polls and formed government breaking its alliance with the BJPWith inputs from ANI and PTI