Maharashtra is in the grip of political uncertainty following the rebellion of Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and several other MLAs on Tuesday, causing the major political parties of Maharashtra to huddle. On Wednesday, Shinde and other MLAs arrived in Guwahati, Assam. Shinde insisted that he had the support of 40 MLAs.
The political crisis erupted after Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde and a few MLAs arrived late Monday night at a hotel in Surat, hours after the Legislative Council elections, in which the BJP won the fifth seat despite having insufficient representation in the Assembly. This result could be attributed to suspected cross-voting from the ruling coalition, as well as support from Independent MLAs and MLAs from smaller parties. According to reports and speculations, Shinde and other MLAs may join the BJP to form a Government in Maharashtra.
They were camping at a hotel in Surat before being flown to Guwahati on Wednesday morning. Eknath Shinde and other Sena MLAs were camped out at the Surat hotel Le Meridian. According to sources, CR Paatil, the Gujarat BJP unit’s chief, is the driving force behind Shinde’s revolt against Uddhav Thackeray. When the Sena MLAs arrived in Surat, he pretended to be a host. Paatil cancelled all of his scheduled appointments when Shinde and his supporters arrived. He rushed from Ahmedabad to Surat to monitor the situation. Gujarat Police also increased security at the hotel where Sena MLAs were staying.
CR Paatil was born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, but moved to Gujarat. Shinde devised the idea of housing himself and his supporters in a five-star hotel in Surat. Because Surat is CR Paatil’s hometown, the BJP party was assured that the rebel MLAs would be adequately protected. According to reports, CR Paatil even met Eknath Shinde in a hotel in Surat. CR Paatil kept in touch with Shinde throughout his entire stay in Gujarat.
On Wednesday, the focus shifted from Surat to Guwahati, as the 40 MLAs led by Shinde arrived in the state capital of BJP-ruled Assam. When Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the hotel where Shiv Sena rebels were staying, he became embroiled in the Maharashtra political crisis. Himanta Biswa Sarma went to the Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati before the Maharashtra MLAs arrived at the airport.
According to reports, Shinde and other MLAs may form the government with the BJP in an attempt to destabilise the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. According to BJP sources, the task of negotiating with Shinde and the rebel MLAs has been assigned to two senior party figures: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and party National General Secretary CT Ravi.
Bhupender Yadav is the Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, as well as the Minister for Labour and Employment. He represents Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha. He is regarded as an important party leader with extensive experience in political manoeuvring and negotiations.
