Will Eknath Shinde be the new face of Shiv Sena?

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray received new shots fired at him by Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde with him claiming that it is in fact he who is now the legitimate leader of the party.

Shinde made his ambitions clear by stating that of the party’s 57 MLAs, he has the support of 30 MLAs and four Independents, who are parked with him in Guwahati. It is reported that four more are on a flight to join him.

Also read: Discussions with rebel MLA Eknath Shinde positive, says Sena MP Sanjay Raut

A signed letter from 34 MLAs to the Governor, dispatched late this afternoon, proclaimed Shinde as their leader.

Meanwhile, news organisation ANI reported that Shinde will hold a press conference today (June 22) at 7pm.

To qualify as the “real” Shiv Sena, Shinde must have 37 MLAs with him; with that number, he can officially split the Sena.

Also read: Amid Maha crisis, Sena MLA says party should renew ties with BJP

Just two nights ago, there seemed to be a little presentiment of Shinde’s plan. But since then, the rebellion championed by him has moved at a crushing pace. Shinde left for Surat with a large group of MLAs in the middle of the night, relocated from there to Assam, another state governed by the BJP, and has enlisted new members in his camp.

Through this, representatives of Thackeray have met with and spoken to Shinde on the phone. Shinde has refused to offer a compromise that does not involve the Sena in a reunion with the BJP, and ending its current alliance with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party or NCP.

Also read: Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, leaving Surat hotel for Guwahati

Shinde and team has reportedly felt that the Sena has whittled down its commitment to Hindutva, which has diminished its brand and its standing among right-wing supporters.

In recent months, Pawar had alerted Thackeray to the growing concerns about him. Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections that was held earlier this month, he asked Thackeray to engage more with legislators to ensure the ruling alliance came out on top.

Also read: Maha Vikas Aghadi, India’s opposition unity experiment, at risk

Meanwhile, Shinde was upset with CM Thackeray for urging Sena MLAs to vote for the Congress to help it get two members elected, when, in fact, the Congress had just enough strength to get one seat.