Mumbai: The 39 rebel legislators led by Eknath Shinde would in a day or two will submit a letter to the Governor BS Koshyari on withdrawal of support from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government and urge him to ask the MVA government to prove majority in the state assembly.
The Shinde camp has received a major relief after Supreme Court acting on it petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to him and 15 other rebel MLAs last week, the Supreme Court issued notices to Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu, leader of Legislature party Anil Chaudhary and the Centre. The top court will now hear the matter on July 11.
Shinde camp sources told the Free Press Journal, ‘’The 39 legislators will not have to merge with any party including BJP or MNS or Prahar Janshakti but they can participate in the trust vote motion and vote against it. Based on the letter by the 39 legislators, the Governor in 48 hours can ask Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove the majority and before that a new speaker will be elected. The BJP with Shinde camp will form the government soon.’’
Sources said that Shinde camp will argue that it is the real Shiv Sena and the 16 legislators of Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will have to follow its whip. Thereafter, the newly-elected Speaker will file its reply to the Supreme Court. BJP has indicated that it will not move no-confidence motion but will watch the political situation which is evolving.
On the other hand, former minister and veteran BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar, who attended party’s core committee meeting held on Monday evening, said, ‘’BJP is currently in a wait and watch mode and has not yet decided whether to form a government or align with any party. BJP has not received any proposal from Shinde camp.’’
He further noted, ‘’The core committee has assessed the status in the state assembly after the Supreme Court’s ruling. If necessary, BJP will convene a meeting of the core team again to take a future course of action.’’
Mungantiwar said that against the present political crisis the party has instructed all BJP legislators to stay in their respective constituencies and not to leave the state or the country.
Meanwhile, the MVA comprising Shiv Sena is now left with only 16 legislators while NCP has 53 legislators, Congress 44, Samajwadi Party 2 and independents. The MVA government’s majority has fallen below the halfway mark of 144 in the 288-member assembly. One seat is vacant after the demise of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke while NCP leaders Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik are in jail.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut as well as Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray have challenged the rebel legislators to face the trust motion on the floor of the house instead of making loud claims through TVs and social media.
Meanwhile, the Shinde camp, which has extended their stay at the hotel in Guwahati till July 5, may approach the Governor with a plea for convening the legislature so that the MVA government can face no-confidence motion. The monsoon session of the state legislature is slated to begin on July 18.
If the rebel MLAs won’t merge as per the 10th Schedule Constitution then in that case all 39 rebel legislators may face disqualification. ‘’This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe,” Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11.
