Guwahati: The rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, announced on Saturday that they would create a new party called “Shiv Sena Balasaheb” as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena pushes for their expulsion from the legislature.
“Shiv Sena Balasaheb shall be the name of our organisation. We won’t combine with any party,” rebel Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar said.
“In Maharashtra, there are only two choices available: either we either back the BJP or the NCP. In the end, there is still the choice to support the BJP, according to Deepak Kesarkar, who also notes that “Eknath Shinde will make the final decision on support for the BJP.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray attacked the rebel leader Eknath Shinde and attacked the BJP, saying that they want to “finish off” his organisation and do not want to share their Hindu vote bank. He accused the dissident Shiv Sena MLAs of betraying the party and challenged them to try and wean away common party workers.
Thackeray stepped up the ante and said those who want to leave can do so and communicated directly with Shiv Sainiks and mid-level functionaries. He also met NCP president Sharad Pawar, whose party is the second largest constituent in the ruling MVA alliance, as the four-day-old political crisis showed no signs of heading towards a resolution. The crisis was caused by a revolt by a group of Sena MLAs led by cabinet minister Shinde.