Shinde claims support of 50 Sena MLAs, says will return to Mumbai shortly

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in a hotel in Assam's Guwahati, on Tuesday claimed that he has the support of 50 MLAs and will soon return to Mumbai.

Speaking to reporters here, Shinde said, "We are in Shiv Sena and we are taking Shiv Sena forward. There should not be any doubt about it. We will give let you know about our further course of action. I would be in Mumbai soon."

On the claim of Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray that 15 to 20 MLAs had claimed that they had been abducted and had reached out to party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati, Shinde said that "no MLA has been suppressed" and all are with him of their own will.

"No MLA is suppressed here, everyone here is happy. MLAs are with us. If Shiv Sena says that the MLAs present here are in contact with them, they should reveal the names," he added.

He further said that the rebel MLAs were in favour of Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and enthused about carrying it forward.

"Our spokesperson is Deepak Kesarkar, he will give you all the information. He is letting you know about our stand and role. We are speaking about Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and we are carrying it forward," Shinde told reporters in Guwahati.

Earlier, attacking dissident MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena".

Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state.

Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati.

He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama".

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday arrived in Delhi amid the ongoing political situation in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

He reached the national capital after a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation.

The political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde reached the Supreme Court with pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenging the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs.

On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday.

The Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm.