Shinde writes to Election Commission, says Shiv Sena is with him

Mumbai: In an attempt to grab the power of the party as whole, the rebel Shiv Sena leader, Eknath Shinde has written to the Election Commission informing that the national executive body of Shiv Sena appointed by Uddhav Thackeray has been dissolved, and he appointed a new body to replace the old one.

The coup he had run with other rebel Sena MLAs dethroned Uddhav Thackeray from the Chief Ministership of Maharashtra.

In the letter, Shinde mentioned that the national executive has been formed by a majority of Shiv Sena leaders, referring to the rebels within the party.

This is said to be the first major move to dislodge Uddhav Thackeray from the Chief of the Sena, which was founded by his late father Bal Thackeray.

The Uddhav Thackeray led coalition government, in which Congress and NCP were the key parties, was removed from the power following the desertion of majority of party MLAs to Shinde camp.

Thackeray alleged that the desertion was under the coercion as party MLAs and MPs were threatened to turn against his leadership using Central agencies like Enforcement Directorate.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, one of the few who remains in team Thackeray, has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai for questioning today in connection with money-laundering allegations.

Meanwhile, there are reports of the Shinde camp trying to find ways to a make a deal with Thackerays, for which the newly elected party leader for the Lok Sabha, Rahul Shewale has been made emissary.

In other turns of events in Supreme Court in regard to the pleas Thackeray faction has filed challenging the new Speaker Rahul Narwekar's steps, Governor BS Koshyari's order asking the Thackeray government to prove its majority on the floor, the Court urged the both parties to maintain the status quo.

Both the factions moved notices seeking disqualification of legislators of opposite sides.