CM Shinde forms parallel Shiv Sena Sena, becomes its leader

By Our Special Correspondent

Ahead of the July 20 Supreme Court hearing, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has formed a parallel Shiv Sena, making the new party leader and his loyalists office bearers.

In the list of new office-bearers, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray was not excluded when Shinde appointed him as party leader.

The reason why Shinde did not remove Uddhav from the party's top post is that no one has the right to remove the president as per the party constitution.

"The president remains, but a new party body has been formed," Shinde said.

The new CM appointed Deepak Kesarkar as the representative of his faction. On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray expelled Ramdas Kadam and Anadrav Adsule from the party for their "anti-party" activities.

Shinde also poached 12 Lok Sabha MPs after a vertical split in the Shiv Sena legislative party. After being recognized as a special group in the Lok Sabha, there is now a possibility of forming a new group.

A dozen Sena MPs will meet Prime Minister Modi and other BJP leaders on Tuesday. The remaining six Lok Sabha MPs of the party are with Uddhav Thackeray.

Shinde will reach Delhi on July 19 and meet BJP leaders. He will seek legal advice on the disqualification petition against the Shiv Sena MLAs, which will come before the Supreme Court bench on July 20.

The Shinde faction decided to appoint the party's Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale as the leader of the Shiv Sena MPs. Bhavna Gawali will be the Chief Whip.

In the new officer-bearer list, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde appointed deputy leaders - Yashwant Jadhav, Gulabrav Patil, Uday Samant, Sharad Ponkshe, Tanaji Sawant, Vijay Nahata and Shivaji Adalrao Patil.

Shinde can now tell the Supreme Court about the vertical split in the party, the source said, and therefore give special recognition to the new faction.