Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that he was unaware that the Shiv Sena MLAs were staying in the city’s upscale hotel during the turmoil in the Maharashtra government, where a breakaway group of more than 40 Shiv Sena MLAs including independent MLAs are camped out.
“There are many excellent hotels in Assam, so anyone may visit and stay there without any problems. I’m not sure if MLAs from Maharashtra are residing in Assam. Assam allows MLAs from other states to visit and remain ” Sarma told as quoted by ANI.
To split the party in the assembly without breaking the anti-defection statute, the dissident group, led by Sena MLA Eknath Shinde, has already attained the necessary 37 members. He will have 39 MLAs if Sena adds two more. His current standing, including independent MLAs, is 42.
Even images from the Guwahati hotel were uploaded online by Mr. Shinde’s campaign to demonstrate the support of 42 MLAs.
The team of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has chosen to request the disqualification of 17 MLAs in a last-ditch effort to save the ruling Maharashtra alliance. Due to this, Team Thackeray has requested that the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra legislature disqualify 5 MLAs initially.
However, the Sena may not move to dismiss more than 17, as doing so would disadvantage the BJP by lowering the halfway point. Sena’s strategy appears to be to disqualify a few rebels in order to deter the other rebels from participating in elections and compel them to come back.
Moreover, as additional MLAs are likely to join today, the number of Eknath Shinde-led MLAs in Guwahati is anticipated to surpass 50.