Maharashtra’s MVA government in danger zone as Sena minister with MLAs go unreachable

Eknath Shinde has reportedly left Mumbai along with 11 MLAs and has been stationed at Surat in Gujarat.

A day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trumped Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Legislative Council polls, the stability of the State government has come under question as senior Sena minister Eknath Shinde reportedly left Mumbai along with his group of MLAs to be stationed at Surat in Gujarat.

Mr Shinde said to have taken 11 party MLAs with him in what seems likely to be a rebellion within the saffron party against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In Monday’s council poll, a total of 12 Sena MLAs cross-voted in favour of BJP candidates.

Sources in Surat confirmed that over a dozen legislators from Maharashtra been lodged at the Le Meridien Hotel. “The legislators checked in late last night,“ the sources said adding that there is heavy police deployment in the area where the hotel is located.

The move from Mr Shinde has brought stability of MVA government under scanner. The BJP with its performance in council polls had demonstrated the support of 134 MLAs while the majority mark in Maharashtra assembly is 145. 

Mr Thackeray on Tuesday afternoon has called an urgent meeting of party MLAs in the wake of Mr Shinde’s rebellion within.

On Monday, apart from Sena, three MLAs of Congress too cross voted in favour of the BJP. Senior party ministers and leaders have been called to Delhi to seek response on the same. Party’s legislative leader and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat had claimed the responsibility for the same adding that there was need to introspect.

Cross voting by Congress MLAs resulted in lost of party’s first preference candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore.