June 24, 2022
4 mins read

Amid endgame prophecies, MVA stands united

Both the NCP and the Congress, while expressing confidence that the political fracas will die out soon, said they will remain with the MVA and Thackeray till the very end..writes Quaid Najmi

As the Shiv Sena grappled with a potentially “life-threatening” rebellion in its ranks for the third day on Thursday, its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies – the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress – threw their full weight behind embattled Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Late on Wednesday, Thackeray offered to quit as CM and as Sena President, and on Thursday, party MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut even said the party is ready to “leave the MVA”, with a rider that “all rebels must reach Mumbai in 24 hours and put their viewpoint before the leadership”.

“We are ready to walk out of the MVA, provided the rebels return to Mumbai within 24 hours and hold discussions with the Shiv Sena,” Raut said, throwing yet another challenge to the group of rebels led by Minister Eknath Shinde.

He called upon the rebels to stop communicating on social media or phone messages or letters or statements sitting in Assam, and like “true Shiv Sainiks” show the guts to come to Mumbai.

“Come here within 24 hours… Sit before Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Saheb and present your viewpoint to him. We shall definitely consider them,” Raut declared.

Both the NCP and the Congress, while expressing confidence that the political fracas will die out soon, said they will remain with the MVA and Thackeray till the very end, and if the situation arose, would be prepared to sit in the opposition benches.

Intervening this evening, NCP President Sharad Pawar warned that the “rebels will have to pay the price for their revolt when they face the electorate”.

“The MVA government has already proved its majority. Those who call the 3-party experiment a failure are ignorant. The government has performed well and taken many major decisions in the past two and half years,” he asserted, dismissing the rebel MLAs allegations of not getting adequate funds for development works as “false”.

He pointed out that the rebels “would have to come before the Governor or the legislature” to prove their strength, and after their return, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may not “guide” them.

Pawar also expressed confidence that the rebel Sena MLAs will return to the party fold and flayed the manner in which they were taken away as “improper”.

On the side of the mutinous lawmakers camping in Guwahati, the torch-bearer, Shinde has been “elected” as the breakaway group’s leader and authorised to take all decisions on their behalf.

According to a video that emerged late this evening, Shinde is heard praising the BJP, terming it as a “national force which taught a lesson to Pakistan” and would take care of the rebels.

The “Shinde Sena” has claimed the support of “over 40” Sena MLAs, while the Sena in Mumbai is left with around 18 legislators, but it has disputed the rebels’ contentions, saying “everything will be clear only when all the deserters come to Mumbai”.

Speculation is rife that the Shinde group is also making attempts to wrest control over the Shiv Sena with its claimed support of around 40-plus MLAs, but Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi dismissed it, saying there is a huge difference between making claims and actually doing it.

The sudden calamity that gripped it late on the night of June 20-21 has shaken the once aggressive Sena to the core amid gloomy prophecies that this could be “swan song” for the party plus the second and third generation Thackerays – CM Uddhav and his son Minister Aditya.

The party had earlier weathered similar disasters, though much less serious, with persons like Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Sanjay Nirupam and even family member Raj Thackeray quitting at various points in the past 30 years.

However, the Sena not only weathered those departures which in retrospect proved to be mere dents, and the party marched ahead with confidence.

This time round, the Sena seems to have landed in a burning fire where its very existence – with the supreme control of the Thackeray family – appears to be at stake, not to mention the survival of its 3rd alliance government.

Spelling solace, NCP state President Jayant Patil and state Congress President Nana Patole, and other central party leaders pointed accusing fingers at the BJP for creating the political upheaval that threatens the continuation of the MVA.

ALSO READ: Shinde claims support of 40 MLAs

Previous Story

MBZ, King Jordan discuss brotherly relations, cooperation and joint action

Next Story

Choose a pet-friendly vacation spot

Latest from India News

Kiwis Soar to Final, India Awaits 

Ravindra, Williamson power NZ to record total as Miller’s blazing ton goes in vain.  Former winner New Zealand set up a meeting with India in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy

Mamata to Address Oxford, Meet UK Industrialists 

The topic of Banerjee’s Oxford address remains undisclosed. She was invited in 2021, but Trinamool Congress claimed central government interference led to its cancellation.  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set

Epic Unveiling 

The highly anticipated teaser for Kannappa, an epic film based on the legendary tale, was launched at a media event in Mumbai. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, lead actor Vishnu Manchu, and director
Go toTop

Don't Miss

EC Aims to Boost Urban Polling in Andhra

The urban areas, including Visakhapatnam, Nellore, Kurnool town, Rajamahendravaram, and

NDA seals Bihar deal

BJP set to contest 17 seats and JD(U) 16. LJP