Will Return To Mumbai Tomorrow “To Complete Formalities”: Chief Sena Rebel

Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, leading a staggering coup against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, was spotted at a Guwahati temple this morning.

He visited the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati along with some rebel MLAs who have been staying at a five-star hotel in the city for a week. Assam BJP MLA Sushanta Borgohai also accompanied the rebels to the temple.

Eknath Shinde told NDTV that he would be flying to Mumbai as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government faces the test of majority in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow.

“We will return to Mumbai tomorrow to complete the necessary formalities,” he said.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to face a floor test and prove majority in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow.

This comes a day after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met the Governor and urged for a floor test in the house. He had met the party high command in Delhi earlier in the day.

Mr Fadnavis claimed that the MVA alliance has lost majority as 39 rebel MLAs have withdrawn their support to the coalition.

BJP leaders reportedly held several meetings at Mr Fadnavis’s home in Mumbai to discuss the arithmetic required to form a government in a tie-up with the Shinde Sena faction.

Mr Shinde claims he has the backing of around 50 MLAs, nearly 40 from the Shiv Sena and they would “take Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy forward”.

On Monday, the Supreme Court gave Mr Shinde and 15 rebels time till July 12 to respond to notices to disqualify them.

The Supreme Court refused to pass orders on Team Thackeray’s request that no floor test be allowed till July 12. “If anything illegal happens, you can always move this court,” it said.