Top Sena leader's disappearance creates political uncertainty in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Eknath Shinde, one of the top leaders of the Shiv Sena and the current Minister of urban affairs in Maharashtra is reported to have been untraceable, jeopardising the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

He is said to have moved to a hotel in Gujarat's Surat with 10 party MLAs, causing a major crisis in the ruling coalition government in the state. Shinde is reportedly upset with the party after being sideling for some times now over issues related to Sena's political decisions.

Known as a strongman in the party who had played a key role in strengthening the Shiv Sena after severing its ties with the BJP, Shinde is believed to have held a considerable hold on several party MLAs.

He has been elected consecutively for four terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly—2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. After his 2014 win, he was elected as the leader of the legislative party of Shiv Sena and subsequently the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Sena leader MP Sanjay Raut alleged conspiracy in the disappearance of Shinde and other MLAs, tacitly referring to the political emergency in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to the BJP's play.

Raut said that the party will ensure to avoid such emergency happening in Maharashtra.

Opposition BJP's sources have claimed that besides the 13 Sena MLAs with Mr Shinde, there are five Independent MLAs at the Surat hotel too.