Pawar asks Shinde to prove on floor

By Our Special Correspondent

In the aftermath of midnight, 37 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs wrote a letter to the Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker announcing that Eknath Shinde would continue as their leader in the Assembly.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, however, surrounded the troubled Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and said that the numerical strength would be proved only in a confidence vote on the Assembly floor. Citing Shinde's claim that there would be all support, he blamed the BJP for engineering it.

We (the rebel MLAs) have been assured that we will provide whatever help we need, "Shinde said in Marathi amid cheers from supporters. Meanwhile, senior Sena leader Sanjay Routh said the party was ready to pull out of Maha Vikas Aghadi if those camping in Guwahati returned to Mumbai within 24 hours and spoke to Thackeray.

Sena has reportedly asked the Deputy Speaker to take action against MLAs who did not attend the Legislative Party meeting. For their part, the rebels said, “We do not want a change of party president; we want to leave the unnatural Aghadi alliance for various reasons and form a new government with the BJP.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the party was with the Shiv Sena. Deputy CM and NCP senior leader Ajit Pawar also said that the party would support Uddhav till the end. Uddhav MLA Nitish Deshmukh submitted a letter to prove the allegations that Shiv Sena legislators were taken to Surat "forcibly", while MLA Sanjay Shirsat released a letter highlighting the grievances of Shinde legislators.

Routh, however, said that those who fear CBI, ED or income tax raids are not hardcore Shiv Sainiks. As for Shinde, his support team looks swollen. When he first sent them to Surat, the number of his MLAs was 20. By the time he left Surat for Guwahati it had reached 22, where most people had joined. On Thursday another four army MLAs took his score and entered his camp. Up to 37.

However, the leadership is keeping a close eye on Pawar, who has taken charge of the situation, especially in Maharashtra. Sources say former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is in constant touch with the central leadership.