LIVE: Rebel leader Eknath Shinde gets enough MLAs to split Sena Sena

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Live news updates: The rebellion by Shiv Sena dissident is growing stronger against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Rebel leader Eknath Shinde has reached the critical number of MLAs, 37, required to split the party in the assembly without falling foul of the anti-defection law. His total strength is now 42, news report said.

Chief Minister Thackeray, who heads Shiv Sena, has called a meeting of all party district heads. On Friday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut challenged the rebel camp to come to the city, stating, “We are not going to concede defeat… This government will last its entire term.” Earlier, he warned Shinde that such battles are either fought through law or on the roads. “If the need be, our workers will come out on the roads,” Raut said, while speaking to reporters.

Assam's flood situation remained grim as seven more people died due to the calamity on Thursday taking the toll to 108, while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made an aerial survey of severely affected Silchar town. The total population affected by the current wave of flood, however, registered a decline to 4.5 million in 30 districts from Wednesday's 5.4 million in 32 districts, according to a bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). 

4:16 PM

Tapan Kumar Deka made IB chief

Senior IPS officer Tapan Kumar Deka was on Friday appointed Intelligence Bureau chief, replacing Arvind Kumar whose extended tenure ends on June 30. The tenure of Samant Goel, who has been heading the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), has been extended by one more year, said the personnel ministry.

3:33 PM

Tourists are welcome: Assam CM denies BJP role in Maharashtra crisis

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday sought to downplay the camping of Maharashtra's rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in his state saying all "tourists" are welcome. Sarma said he has nothing to do with the politics of Maharashtra where the survival of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government is at stake after 38 of his party's MLAs rebelled and are currently camping at a hotel in Guwahati after being flown there in several flights, PTI reported.

3:24 PM

BJP using its resources to oust Thackeray: Congress's Adhir Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury blames the BJP for the political crisis in Maharashtra. “From the day Uddhav Thackeray took over as Maharashtra CM, the BJP is using all its resources and muscle power to oust him... MVA govt is gradually earning the trust of the common people,” said Chowdhury, referring to the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

 

3:19 PM

One more Shiv Sena MLA joins Eknath Shinde's camp

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena suffered yet another setback as one more party MLA has joined the camp of rebel legislators headed by minister Eknath Shinde in Assam. A video of MLA Dilip Lande entering the luxury hotel in Guwahati, where the party rebels have been camping for the past few days, was shared by Shinde's office in Mumbai on Friday, PTI reported.

2:39 PM

Maharashtra Dy Speaker makes Ajay Chaudhary Shiv Sena's legislative leader

2:30 PM

Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande joins other rebel MLAs in Guwahati

12:45 PM

NDA's Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu files her nomination

11:26 AM

Z category security cover for Yashwant Sinha

The Centre has extended a Z category cover of armed CRPF commandos to the opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha, officials said on Friday. The squad has taken over the task after the Union home ministry directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) VIP security wing to ensure protection to the 84-year-old Sinha. The armed personnel, about eight to ten working in shifts, will escort Sinha whenever he moves across the country, they said.

 

 

10:36 AM

Gujarat 2002 riots: Supreme Court dismisses plea filed by Zakia Jafri

Supreme Court dismisses plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the then state CM Narendra Modi and several others in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

 

10:09 AM

Process underway to disqualify 12 MLAs of Eknath Shinde faction: Sanjay Raut

Process underway to disqualify 12 MLAs (of Eknath Shinde faction), their numbers are only on the papers. Shiv Sena is a big ocean such waves come and go: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

 

10:08 AM

We are taking action to disqualify the rebel MLAs: Sanjay Raut

Threats are being given to Sharad Pawar ji by a Central minister. Do such threats have the support of Modi Ji and Amit Shah Ji?...We are taking action to disqualify the (rebel) MLAs: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

 

10:07 AM

Whether or not the MVA govt survives, use of such language for Pawar is not acceptable: Sanjay Raut

"A central minister of the BJP has said that if attempts are made to save MVA govt, then Sharad Pawar will not be allowed to go home. Whether or not the MVA govt survives, use of such language for Sharad Pawar is not acceptable," tweets Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

 

10:06 AM

We are real Shiv Sena, who are you trying to scare: Party rebel Eknath Shinde on disqualification demand

With the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seeking cancellation of membership of several rebel MLAs, minister Eknath Shinde, who has spearheaded the revolt against the party, has claimed that the group led by him is the "real Shiv Sena", and also hit back saying he and his supporters will not be intimidated by the disqualification threats.

 

In a series of tweets posted late Thursday night, Shinde who is camping in Guwahati along with 37 Sena legislators and 10 independents, said as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, a party whip is issued for the legislature proceedings and not for attending a meeting.

9:43 AM

Rupee opens at 78.20 against US dollar, up 12 paise

Rupee opens at 78.20 against US dollar, up 12 paise from its previous all-time low closing of 78.32

 

9:24 AM

SC to pronounce verdict on a plea filed by Zakia Jafri in 2002 Gujarat riots

Supreme Court to pronounce today its verdict on a plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to Narendra Modi, then Gujarat CM and now PM and several others in 2002 Gujarat riots.