The Eknath Shinde camp of the Shiv Sena that
removed Balasaheb Thackeray’s son Uddhav Thackeray from the Maharashtra chief
minister’s seat, has decided to go easy on Aaditya Thackeray, Balasaheb’s
grandson. During the floor test on Monday, Aaditya Thackeray, a former minister
in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, voted against new Shiv Sena chief
whip Bharat Gogawale’s whip to vote for the Eknath Shinde-led government.
Despite that, the Shiv Sena has decided against initiating disqualification
proceedings against Aaditya Thackeray “out of respect” for the party founder.

The Shinde camp has, however, decided to initiate
action against 16 other MLAs for the same decision – to stand by Uddhav
Thackeray.

“We have given the notice to disqualify all the
persons who defied our whip except Aaditya Thackeray. We have not given the
name of Aaditya Thackeray due to respect towards Balasaheb Thackeray,” chief
whip Gogawale said speaking to ANI.

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The Eknath Shinde camp took over the Shiv Sena by
getting more than two-thirds MLAs on his side. The Shinde camp wanted the Shiv
Sena to walk out of the MVA and govern Maharashtra in alliance with BJP. The
camp’s chief complaints included being in an alliance with parties on two ends
of the political spectrum. Further, Uddhav Thackeray’s absence from government
duties and a lack of funds for projects added to people’s grievances.

At the Maharashtra Assembly floor test Monday, 164 MLAs
voted in favour of the Eknath Shinde camp while 99 voted for the Opposition.
The Shinde camp, which has the outright support of 40 of Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs,
has repeatedly claimed that it is the real Shiv Sena. The rebels have accused
Uddhav Thackeray of “diluting” Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy by allying with the
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress.

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Meanwhile, the Uddhav
Thackeray camp has filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding the
disqualification proceedings against 16 MLAs. The Thackeray camp has also filed
a petition challenging the new Maharashtra speaker’s decision to recognise the
new party whip of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.