Guwahati: Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs are in no mood to respond to Uddhav Thackeray’s emotional appeal urging them to tell him on his face that they didn’t want him as Maharashtra CM.
The ‘coup’, in fact, intensified as four more party MLAs reached Guwahati on Thursday to join the Eknath Shinde camp at a five-star hotel in the city.
The number of Shiv Sena legislators in the rebel Shinde group rose to 35, while seven Independent MLAs are also staying in the hotel to demonstrate their support.
‘Shinde Sena’ as the rebels are being dubbed, posed for a group photo in the hotel as the MLAs shouted, ‘Shinde tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hai’ (Shinde you move ahead, we are with you).
Shinde needs 37 Shiv Sena MLAs to avoid expulsion from the party and a possible shot at forming the government with BJP’s support.
“One national party which is a super power has told me that whatever decision you have taken is historic and ensured us (rebel MLAs) that whatever help is needed, will be given,” Shinde said, obviously referring to the BJP.
The senior Shiv Sena leader, a minister in the MVA coalition government, landed in a Surat hotel with a bunch of party MLAs three days ago in an act of rebellion against the party’s leadership.
