Kochi: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde
is growing more powerful with the increasing support he is getting from Shiv Sena and some independents.
A minister in the MVA government, Shinde has claimed support of 46 MLAs out of 56 to form an alternative government sans the backing of the Congress and NCP of Sharad Pawar.
If the numbers are true, Shinde’s group has crossed the two third figure needed to escape from anti defection law.
On the other hand, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have extended their support to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Calling an emergency meeting amid a political crisis, the party said it would consider quitting the alliance with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP if the rebels come back at the earliest.
The visuals showing 42 MLAs posing with Shinde in a hotel in Guwahati has put Thackeray in a tight corner.
In a bid to settle the matter, the Congress and NCP feel Eknath Shinde’s elevation as Chief Minister will settle the issue. The rebels have intimated the Governor about their support to Shinde who favours a time up with the BJP which is not keen to form a government.
In the 288 member assembly, one seat is vacant while two MLAs are in jail.
The ruling Maha Vikas Akhadi has 169 members with the Shiv Sena having 56 MLAs, NCP 53 and Congress 44. Other parties have nine members and independents eight.
The Opposition NDA has 113 MLAs with BJP 106 members.
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