‘A second floor test for traitors will be when…’: Aaditya Thackeray’s message to rebels

Speaking on the issue, Aditya Thackeray was quoted as telling news agency ANI, “This is not politics, this has now become a circus.”

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's son and cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday said that he was confident that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will emerge out of the crisis – fuelled by the rebellion of minister Eknath Shinde and a group of MLAs – as ruling coalition had the love of people with them.

Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray. (ANI)

He also dubbed the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut as a “circus”. Raut has been asked by the agency to appear before its officials on Tuesday for questioning in a money-laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friends.

Speaking on the issue, Aditya Thackeray was quoted as telling news agency ANI, “This is not politics, this has now become a circus.”

On the rebellion of 16 MLAs who are camping in Guwahati in Assam, Thackeray said they should have resigned and contested the election. “Those who ran away from here and are calling themselves rebels, if they wanted to rebel, they should've done it here. They should've resigned and contested the election. The second floor test would be when they sit before me, look me in the eye and say what did we do wrong.”

"We are confident of winning. We have all the love with us. Those who betray don't win. Those who run away don't win," the Sena leader said when asked how confident he was about the MVA government not collapsing anytime soon.

The MVA government is on the brink of a collapse amid reports of more MLAs joining the rebel camp. Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar said a few others would soon join that Shinde-led faction, following which its strength would reach 51 – way above the magic number of 37 and enough to challenge Maharashtra’s ruling coalition.

Kesarkar made the remarks on Sunday, after Maharashtra minister Uday Samant reached Guwahati where the rebels are camping.

On that, Aaditya Thackeray said, “It is his decision. But he will come before us someday, he will have to look us in the eye someday. Let's see.”

The political turbulence in Maharashtra was fueled by Shinde's rebellion who, along with some MLAs, flew to Surat and then to Guwahati where he claims to have the support of 38 MLAs of the party, thus achieving the two-thirds majority in the Shiv Sena.