Uddhav Thackeray Refuses To Quit; Is Maharashtra Headed For President’s Rule?

Mumbai: Five days into the mega political drama in Maharashtra, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is stuck in a tight corner and his position seems to be irretrievable.

As rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde continues to camp in Guwahati with 47 MLAs, including nine Independent legislators, questions on the future of the tri-party (Sena, NCP and Congress) Maha Vikas Aghadi government are getting louder.

Uddhav, however, is in in no mood to throw in the towel yet.

Will the faction headed by the CM be able to prove its majority on the floor of the state Assembly?

Opposition leaders have called for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation and the imposition of President’s rule in Maharashtra.

Shinde and his men, who have been dubbed as ‘Shinde Sena’, on Friday gave notice of a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narhari Jhirwal.

‘Uddhav Sena’, on the other hand, submitted a plea to disqualify the rebel MLAs.

The Deputy Speaker accordingly issued a disqualification notice to 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs of the Shinde camp on Saturday afternoon. The MLAs have to file their written replies by June 27.

“The disqualification of MLAs will be based on a legal argument. The Deputy Speaker will have to grant them (rebel MLAs and Shiv Sena) a hearing before deciding on the disqualification of MLAs,” explained former Maharashtra Advocate General Shrihari Aney.

Amravati MP Navneet Rana, who was in the news recently along with his MLA husband Ravi Rana for taking on Uddhav in the Hanuman Chalisa row, was among those who called for President’s rule in Maharashtra.

“I request Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide security to families of MLAs who are leaving Uddhav Thackeray and making their own decisions, staying connected with Balasaheb’s ideology. Uddhav Thackeray’s goondaism should be ended. I request for President’s Rule in the state,” she said on Saturday.