Maharashtra crisis in 2nd week, Shinde vs Uddhav Thackeray in SC: 10 points

Maharashtra political crisis: The crisis began last week when Shinde went to Surat with a group of MLAs to register his revolt.

The political crisis in Maharashtra is now in its second week amid widening rift between rebel minister Eknath Shinde and the Uddhav Thackeray government. The war of words has now taken a legal turn with Shinde, 58, and a group of rebel leaders approaching the Supreme Court over the disqualification notices issued to them by the deputy speaker of the Maharashtra assembly. Shinde and over 40 MLAs are camping in the BJP-ruled Assam since last week after a brief stay in Gujarat.

Uddhav Thackeray has been challenged by rebel leader Eknath Shinde. 

Here are ten points on the Maharashtra political crisis:

1. Two petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court - one by Shinde and the other by a group of 15 legislators - that will be taken up on Monday. They were asked to reply by Monday on the disqualification notices sent to them.

2. On behalf of the breakaway faction, MLA Deepak Kesarkar told news agency ANI on Sunday: "We will arrive at a decision in three or four days and thereafter, we will directly go back to Maharashtra. One to two more MLAs will come and join us. With their support and other Independents, our strength will be increased to 51."

3. "MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. We will not go with the MVA government," he further said, exuding confidence that the faction will win support.

4. Eknath Shinde has been justifying his revolt by bring up the controversies linked the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. On Sunday, one of his tweets had a reference to minister Nawab Malik, who was arrested in February.

5. “How can Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena support people who had direct connections with culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim, and those responsible for taking the lives of the innocent people of Mumbai. That’s why we took such a step,” he wrote.

6. Aaditya Thackeray, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s son and Maharahstra minister, made a big reveal on Sunday amid the crisis. “On May 20, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had called Eknath Shinde to 'Varsha' (CM's official residence) and asked whether he wants to become the chief minister. However, he had sidestepped the issue then. But a month later, on June 20, whatever had to happen, happened," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

7. Hectic huddles are still on to find a way out of crisis between the leaders of the ruling coalition. One such meeting was held by Sharad Pawar on Sunday in a bid to draw up a plan.

8. Uddhav Thackeray has said it more than once in the last one week that he was ready to step down.

9. There has also been controversy over rebel leaders using the name of Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray. "Some people are asking me to say something but I've already said that they(rebel MLAs) can do whatever they want to do, I won't interfere in their matters. They can take their own decision, but no one should use Balasaheb Thackeray's name,” the Maharashtra chief minister said during a meeting over the weekend.

10. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, has come under opposition criticism as the rebel leaders continue to stay in Guwahati amid rebellion.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)