Eknath Shinde has released videos and photographs claiming that he has the support of 41 MLAs…reports Asian Lite News
As the political crisis entered the fourth day, the rebel Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde claimed the support of “40-plus MLAs”, besides around 12 independents and smaller parties, on Friday.
He also released videos and photographs claiming that he has the support of 41 MLAs.
Speaking to the media from Guwahati, Shinde also dismissed the ‘warning’ issued by Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar that the rebel legislators would have to come to Mumbai before the Governor or the Legislature to prove their strength.
“We are not scared by such threats… Whatever we are doing is absolutely legal. We have the affidavits of all the MLAs that they have joined us voluntarily. The majority numbers are with us, more than 40 Sena MLAs plus 12 independents and others,” Shinde asserted.
A day after telling his supporters that they would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the breakaway group leader on Friday denied meeting any BJP leaders in Guwahati.
The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress has accused the BJP of instigating the revolt to topple the 30-month-old Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as the three alliance partners decided to stick together till the end.
State Congress Minister Dr. Nitin Raut on Friday accused the BJP of “murdering democracy” by engineering the rebellion in the Sena ranks.
According to the videos and photographs, released by the disgruntled MLAs, Shinde is seen Shinde in the hotel posing with MLAs.
In the visuals, dressed in all-white attire, Shinde, who holds the Urban Development and PWD portfolio in Maharashtra, could be seen surrounded by his fellow legislators.
As a huge contingent of Assam police personnel led by senior officers have encircled the resort, allowing no journalist to come within 200 metre radius of the hotel, no specific developments inside the Radisson Blu could be known.
The BJP leaders in the state and the hotel staff are tight-lipped about what’s goin on inside.
A source close to the rebel Sena MLAs said that two to three more dissident MLAs reached the Guwahati hotel on Thursday.
In another development, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited the Radisson Blu on Thursday.
However, Sangma, who is the President of National People’s Party which is a constituent of the NDA, clarified that he went to the hotel to have lunch as it is located on the way from Guwahati to Shillong.