Maharashtra CM Uddhav offers to relinquish

By Our Special Correspondent

A day after Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's ruling Maha Vilas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra was plunged into a political crisis due to the insurgency; Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday addressed the state and said he would step down if there was dissatisfaction. MLAs are coming forward and demanding.

In a 17-minute webcast, Thackeray further questioned support from his own party, saying: "It is acceptable and hopeful that the NCP and Congress will say no to me. But, if my own people do not want me, what can I do? Finish" He said he was ready to step down as party president even if the Shiv Sena felt he did not have the capacity to lead the party.

“Why advertise from Surat and other places? Come and tell me on my face that I am incompetent to hold the post of Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President. I will resign immediately. I will keep my resignation letter ready and you can come. Take him to the palace,”Thackeray said.

He said he would be happy if another CM from the Shiv Sena resigned. State Urban Development and Public Works Minister Shinde on Monday stormed his party and appeared at the Surat Hotel with 30 MLAs, including three ministers.

A total of 34 MLAs from the separatist faction on Wednesday passed a resolution appointing Shinde as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party. In the resolution, they said, "There is tremendous dissatisfaction within the party-Shiv Sena-cadre over the formation of a government with the ideologically opposed NCP and the Indian National Congress."

He said party members were dissatisfied with government and administration corruption over police postings, citing "then Home Minister Anil Deshmukh (in jail), and sitting Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik (who was also jailed for his involvement with Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim)".

Following the coup, the Sena on Tuesday ousted Shinde as party leader in the state assembly, replacing him with Shivadi MLA Ajay Chaudhary. Before the Shinde uprising, the Sena had 55 MLAs in the House. With 53 MLAs from the NCP and 44 from the Congress, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi has taken the coalition strength to 152. The BJP has 106 MLAs in the current 287-member assembly.