Eknath Shinde, the rebel Shiv Sena leader, claims the support of 40 MLAs, all of whom have arrived in Guwahati

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde stated on Wednesday that 40 party MLAs had arrived in Assam and that they would carry Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva. Shinde and other MLAs were staying in a hotel in Surat, Gujarat, after cross-voting in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections, and caught a flight earlier today to Guwahati. His words came as suspicion mounted that Shinde and other MLAs may join the BJP in an attempt to destabilise the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. "There are 40 Shiv Sena MLAs in attendance. Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva would be carried by us "Shinde remarked upon his arrival in Guwahati.

 

The Shiv Sena MLAs were met at Guwahati airport by BJP MLA Sushanta Borgohain and BJP MP Pallab Lochan Das. "I came to pick them up (Shiv Sena MLAs from Surat, Gujarat). I have not tallied the number of MLAs who have arrived. I came here to have personal relationships. They have not revealed any programme "Borgohain explained. Shinde told reporters at the Surat airport before departing for Guwahati that they have not abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray's, Shiv Sena. "We have not and will not leave Balasaheb Thackeray's, Shiv Sena. We have been following Balasaheb's Hindutva and would continue to do so "he stated.

 

This comes following the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won five seats, dealing a huge blow to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance government. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena each won two seats, while Congress won one of the ten Legislative Council seats up for grabs on Monday. Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs were staying at the Le Meridien hotel in Surat after the MLC elections. In Surat, a Shiv Sena delegation led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's close aides Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak met with Shinde and other party MPs.

 

 

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