"A National Party Has Assured Us All Help": Shiv Sena Rebel Eknath Shinde
NDTV
A video also showed the legislators unanimously authorising Eknath Shinde to take further decision on their behalf as their group leader.
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion against the party has pushed the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to the brink of collapse, said a "national party" has termed their revolt as "historic" and assured to provide all help to them.
A video of Mr Shinde addressing the group of rebel Sena legislators at a Guwahati hotel was released by his office in Mumbai. The video also showed the legislators unanimously authorising Mr Shinde to take further decision on their behalf as their group leader.
In the video, Mr Shinde is seen saying, "Our worries and happiness are the same. We are united and victory will be ours. There is a national party, a 'mahashakti'...you know they vanquished Pakistan. That party has said that we have taken a historic decision and assured to provide all help." Mr Shinde is currently camping with 37 rebel MLAs of the Sena and nine independents in Guwahati. The NCP and Congress also share power in the Uddhav Thackeray-led dispensation.
A statement issued by Mr Shinde's office said the decision to authorise him to take decision on their behalf was taken unanimously.