Aditya Thackeray on Sunday brings up the issue of Assam Floods he says most of the flood affected people are being left fends were lakhs has been spend on rebel Shiva Sena MLAs in Guwahati.
He pointed out that for the first time, the Opposition is supporting a faction leaving the ruling party. He alleged some MLAs had been taken to Guwahati “forcibly”.
“Looking at the last 2-4 days in #Maharshtra, it feels that those who left, left for good… the entire country saw that the person who did the most powerful work during #COVID19 had to leave his official residence.” Aditya Thackeray said on Sunday.
“Many people told me that many leaders will come but no one will be like this CM … Why did rebel MLAs go to Surat, then Guwahati, to break the party? Many MLAs there look like they were forced to be there. 10-15 MLAs are in touch with us and they can vouch for this”, he added.
He further said, “Lakhs of rupees being spent on our MLAs who were forcibly taken there; Rs 9 Lakhs For the first time, the Opposition is supporting a faction leaving the ruling party.”‘
“Many MLAs there look like they were forced to be there. 10-15 MLAs are in touch with us and they can vouch for this,” he further stated.
“Lakhs of rupees are being spent on our MLAs who were forcibly taken there; Rs 9 lakhs a day. Lakhs of flood-affected people are there in the very same Assam, they are left on their own. For the first time, the Opposition is supporting a faction leaving the ruling party,” he told the mediapersons.
The political turbulence in Maharashtra was triggered by the faction war in Shiv Sena after Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Surat with some MLAs and then to Guwahati where he claims of having the support of 38 MLAs of the party, thus achieving the two-thirds majority in the Shiv Sena.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 5.87 billion to USD 590.588 billion in the week ended on June 17, the RBI data showed.
In the previous week ended on June 10, the reserves had dropped by USD 4.599 billion to USD 596.458 billion.
In the reporting week, the forex reserves fell due to a dip in foreign current assets (FCAs), a major component of the overall reserves, and also in gold reserves, the data showed.
FCA decreased by USD 5.362 billion to USD 526.882 billion, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement, released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday.
Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.
Gold reserves fell by USD 258 million to USD 40.584 billion.
The special drawing rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dropped by USD 233 million to USD 18.155 billion in the week ended June 17.
The country’s reserve position with the IMF also dipped by USD 17 million to USD 4.968 billion in the reporting week, the data showed.
As Maharashtra political crises between minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackaray and the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government intensifies, Rashtriya Janta Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav accused the Centre of destabilising non-BJP state government by all means on Friday.
In an media interview RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, “BJP is destabilising non-BJP state governments by all means. Whatever is happening in Maharashtra seems pre-planned. Either they pressurise, scare or they buy. Even in Bihar, people rejected BJP but Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was pressurised and same happened in the state”
In a jolt to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs revolted against the party on Monday night and camped in Surat. The rebel MLAs have shifted base to a hotel in Guwahati.
On Friday CM Uddhav Thackeray said, “despite the rebellions that the party has faced earlier, it came to power twice. I may have left ‘Varsha’, the Chief Minister’s official residence, but not my determination”.
MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said, Sena is ready to quit the MVA government if the group of rebel legislators camping in Assam returns to Mumbai in 24 hours and discusses the issue with Chief Minister Uddhav.
Raut said, “You say you are real Shiv Sainiks and will not quit the party. We are ready to consider your demand provided you come back to Mumbai in 24 hours and discuss the issue with CM Uddhav Thackeray. Your demand will be considered positively. Don’t write letters on Twitter and WhatsApp,”
In a series of tweets posted late Thursday night, Shinde who is camping in Guwahati along with Sena legislators and independents, said as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, a party whip is issued for the legislature proceedings and not for attending a meeting.
Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday reached out to the functionaries of his party, which is currently battling a rebellion, and sought to allay fears surrounding the survival of his political outfit and the MVA government.
The Sena has been witnessing the rebellion within the party after Eknath Shinde broke away and formed a rebel group with the support of several legislators. Shinde is currently camping with at least 38 rebel MLAs of the Sena and 10 independents in Guwahati. He has claimed that the faction led by him is the ”real Shiv Sena”.
In his virtual address to the party’s district unit chiefs and ‘sampark pramukhs’ assembled at the Shiv Sena Bhavan at Dadar in central Mumbai, CM Thackeray said he may have vacated the chief minister’s official residence, but his determination is intact. ”Despite the rebellions that the party has faced earlier, it came to power twice. I may have left ‘Varsha’, the chief minister’s official residence, but not my determination,” he said.
Thackeray added that in the last two-and-a-half years, he battled the COVID-19 pandemic as well as his own ill-health, but opponents took advantage of this situation. Shiv Sena leader and minister Aaditya Thackeray were present at the Shiv Sena Bhavan during the chief minister’s address.
In the wake of the revolt by Shinde, CM Thackeray had on Wednesday night vacated his official residence in south Mumbai and moved to the family home in suburban Bandra.
The nine employees of Housing and Urban development department (HUDD) were premature retired as order by Jammu and Kashmir administration on the charges of corruption under Article 226(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir civil service Regulation, Department Committees of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
The Charges against nine officers were confirmed by the Departmental Committees and were upheld by the designated review committee under Article 226(2), which includes misappropriation of funds, falsification of records and raising fake bills, allowing illegal constructions, committing financial irregularities and making illegal appointments during their tenure in various Urban Local Bodies (ULBS).
Earlier also, many officials faced probes by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and were also suspended. Article 226(2) of the J-K Civil Services Regulations, 1956 allows the government employees to be retired in “public interest” upon completing the 22 years of qualifying service or attaining 48 years of age.
Such employees are retired with a three-month notice or three months of pay. However, they retain their pensionary benefits.
The nine employees of Housing and Urban Development Department who face premature retirement include Mehraj-ud-din Buja, I/C Senior Building Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation who as Head Assistant Revenue Section, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, was arrested by Vigilance Organization Kashmir in a trap case; Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Malik, who during his posting as in charge of EO Municipal Council Anantnag was involved in misappropriation, irregularities in financial transactions, illegal constructions, gross negligence and misconduct; Shabir Ahmad Wani, Assistant Sanitation Officer, MC Shopian, who during his posting as in-charge CEO Municipal Council Anantnag was involved in misappropriation, illegal constructions, irregularities in financial transactions, gross negligence, and misconduct; Zakir All, Sanitary Supervisor, MC Doda; Abdul Latief, Head Assistant, MC Banihal; and Sukesh Kumar, Senior Assistant, MC Doda who was involved in financial mismanagement by the drawal of fictitious bills against the non-existing Safalwallas.
The other three employees of the Housing and Urban Development Department ousted for alleged corruption were Gowhar All Tugoo, I/C Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, who was involved in cases regarding the illegal appointments and financial irregularities made during his tenure at MC, Sopore; Shagufta Fazil, Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir who was found involved in embezzlement and unauthorized withdrawal of TA and 7th Pay Commission arrears; and Thakur Dass, Electrician, Municipal Committee Reasi involved in the huge case of embezzlement of funds and financial mismanagement.
Eknath Shinde's revolt has sparked a debate across India 7
The entire prime-time debates and news reports are based on speculations whereas the truth is far away from what meets the eyes. Mumbai is Shiv Sena’s stronghold but still, Eknath managed to flee with Shiv Sena MLAs without leaving any hint and ironically his constituency people are strongly supporting him. Eknath got people’s support just because he made his stand clear that he loves his leaders but refused to accept the unnatural alliance. The 37 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs who are camping in Guwahati sent a second letter to Maharashtra Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, reaffirming that Eknath Shinde will remain their group leader in the legislature. The letter stated that Eknath Shinde will be the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party, while Bharatshet Gogawale will be the Chief Whip of the Shiv Sena.
In a last-ditch attempt to keep his flock together, Uddhav Thackeray met the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators. While Thackeray has been holding meetings with the district presidents to see where the party cadre stands, with the migration of a majority of the MLAs to the Eknath Shinde camp, all eyes are on this meeting with the corporators. After MLAs are followed by MPs, the next big split within the party is going to be among corporators of the BMC. There will be an impact on the BMC polls to be held in October-November, which can further damage the party. Since the MLAs who were given notice of suspension by Shiv Sena are supporting Eknath Shinde’s revolt without fear of action, they do not find any attempt to plan for the withdrawal of MLAs. Shiv Sena leaders are waiting to find a way out of this. But they did not get it.
On the other hand, by ignoring and sidelining rural Maharashtra, Sena has lost an opportunity to script its own brand. Such a narrative would have helped Sena create a robust institutional network across the state, groom a young band of rural Sainiks from the BC-OBC and Adivasi communities, and bridge the urban-rural divide that threatens to tear the party apart. No wonder Shinde’s list of rebels includes many from the dusty plains of Maharashtra, including Dada Bhuse, Shambhuraj Desai and Pradeep Jaiswal, overall he claims to have 38 MLAs with him.
However, the Election Commission may have to face another battle and that would be the ‘bow and arrow’ of the Shiv Sena’s election symbol to be frozen first and then the Shinde group’s demand that we get it. In fact, the BJP will be more interested in Shinde and Kamp becoming BJP supporters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Uddhav Thackeray closed all the MLAs, MPs and corporators; Shinde’s army will be the ‘real’ army. The real problem with this game of chance is if Uddhav Thackeray really tries to stand on his own two feet. No matter how much we think about intellectuals, our politics is based on emotions.
There is no denying that Shiv Sena is a party running on pure emotion. Due to this, Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, who became weak after many rifts, bowed down at the meeting in Shivaji Park and an election was held on that one salutation. So much so that in the last assembly elections, Sharad Pawar, who was in his eighties, held a campaign rally in the pouring rain and changed the winds of the elections. The BJP’s specialty is to play this emotional game perfectly without emotion. The left does not care about these sentiments, so they win the debate, but lose the election.
While it is becoming clear that the BJP’s intention is to overthrow Uddhav Thackeray and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government by doing anything before the forthcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Although the Eknath Shinde revolt has succeeded in diverting the attention of the masses from the burning issues in India like Agniveer, Hindu killings in Kashmir and so on. There is no doubt that the next battle will be fought on the streets. Shinde is a leader of protestors who can accumulate resources. He has so far fulfilled the responsibilities of the leader. Even after this, their condition will not change much. At the same time, the size and shape of the assets to be deposited may change. This is because BJP does not need Shinde for resources. BJP does not need Shinde as much as Shiv Sena needs him. Shinde announced his departure from Guwahati but later on postponed it.
Here the situation for Thackeray continues to become grimmer with his close aide switching sides and the chief minister himself falling short of numbers. It seems that the legacy of Bal Thackeray, who founded Shiv Sena, has slipped from the hands of Uddhav Thackeray with the rebellion of Eknath Shinde as he claims of being a true Shivsainik, the battle of who holds the true legacy of Balasaheb has started. Let us see what time unfolds.
MLA Ajay Chaudhary approved as party’s legislative leader in state Assembly was approved by Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly on Friday
A letter in this regard was sent to the Shiv Sena office secretary by the Deputy speaker’s office.
MLA Eknath Shinde is replaced by MLA Ajay Chaudhary, expediting the need for the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition to prove its majority through a floor test
Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde along with 38 party MLAs and nine independent MLAs are campaigning at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati from June 22.
These developments came to the fore after a severe political crisis in Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra erupted after the party legislators joined a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde who is staying at a hotel in Guwahati.
Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat claimed that both Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were trying to eliminate Shiv Sena politically from Maharashtra and the MLAs made countless attempts to inform Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about the malafide intentions of alliance partners.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut even urged rebel MLAs to return to Mumbai and discuss their issues with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Raut also claimed that the Shiv Sena is ready to “consider exiting out of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) if this is the will of all the MLAs” but with a condition that the rebel MLAs will have to convey the message directly to CM Uddhav Thackeray and discuss the issues with him.
Recently, Raut on Friday alleged that Union Minister was threatening Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should pay attention to it as it is a “matter of concern”.
Meanwhile, Raut warned Ekanth Shinde-led rebel MLAs and said that if needed ‘Shiv Sena workers will come on the roads.
“Eknath Shinde faction that’s challenging us must realize that Shiv Sena workers are yet to come on the roads. Such battles are fought either through law or on the roads.
If need be then our workers would come on the roads,” said Shiv Sena leader.
He further said that the process underway to disqualify 12 MLAs (of the Eknath Shinde faction), their numbers are only on the papers.
Eknath Shinde is appearing to be holding a tight grip on the Shiv Sena, as the strength of MLAs supporting him is expected to cross 50 as more legislators are likely to reach Guwahati on Friday thus further deepening the political crisis in Maharashtra.
The situation for Thackeray continues to become grimmer with his close aide switching sides and the chief minister himself falling short of numbers.
It seems that the legacy of Bal Thackeray, who founded Shiv Sena, has slipped from the hands of Uddhav Thackeray with the rebellion of Eknath Shinde as he claims of being a true Shivsainik, the battle of who holds the true legacy of Balasaheb has started.
Even as the Shiv Sena-led MVA dispensation is currently facing a survival crisis due to a rebellion by Sena minister Eknath Shinde, the departments – mostly controlled by ruling allies NCP and Congress – have issued government orders for the release of funds for various development-related works worth thousands of crores in the last four days.
Between June 20 and 23, the departments issued as many as 182 government resolutions (GRs), while on June 17, they passed 107 such GRs. These orders can be seen on the government’s official website.
Technically, these are called government resolutions or GRs, which are essentially an approval order sanctioning release of funds for development related works.
From Tuesday, Maharashtra’s ruling alliance – the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – started battling its worst crisis since coming into existence in 2019 after senior Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde rebelled against the party and herded some MLAs to BJP-ruled Assam.
The crisis, which erupted hours after the Legislative Council polls held on June 20, which saw the opposition BJP managing to get its fifth candidate elected. Shinde had gone incommunicado following the results. He and a group of rebel MLAs first stayed in Gujarat, but later moved to Assam.
He is currently camping in a Guwahati hotel along with 37 rebel MLAs of the Sena and nine independents.
Although Shinde’s rebellion became public on June 21 morning, his growing discomfort had been sensed by Sena’s allies – NCP and Congress. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had even claimed that he had sounded Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about the possible rebel from Shinde and some MLAs, sources said.
So since the ruling partners had sensed what was coming, the departments controlled by these parties went on a spree to issue the GRs, they said.
The water supply and sanitation department, headed by Shiv Sena’s Gulabrao Patil, issued over 84 GRs on a single day on June 17. Most of the orders were pertaining to sanction of funds, administrative approvals and for salaries of staff working on various water supply schemes in the state.
Patil was among the last Sena legislators, who joined hands with Shinde by reaching in Guwahati.
June 17 was a Friday – the last working day of the week – and MLC elections took place on Monday.
Between June 20 and 23, the least number of GRs – 28 – were issued on Monday. On the following day, 66 GRs were issued. In the past two days – on June 22 and 23, the government issued 44 and 43 orders respectively.
As per the data, since Monday, the departments controlled by NCP and Congress went on a spree as over 70 per cent of the 182 orders were issued during this period.
The departments such as social justice, water resources, skill development, housing development, finance and home, being headed by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, have issued maximum GRs.
Some GRs were issued by the Congress-controlled departments such as tribal development, revenue, PWD, school education, OBC and fisheries.
The soil and conservation department, handled by independent MLA and minister Shankarrao Gadakh, passed nearly 20 orders.
During the last four days, only a couple of GRs from the departments controlled by the Shiv Sena were issued. The GRs were issued by the industries department, Marathi language handled by the outgoing minister Subhash Desai and also tourism department helmed by Aaditya Thackeray, son of CM Uddhav Thackeray.
But apart from these three, no other departments handled by the Sena issue any GR.
There are couple of GRs issued by the state tribal development department controlled by Congress – which are cumulatively worth over Rs 1,000 crore.
The finance department controlled by state Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar issued a GR increasing the local area development funds to a total of Rs 319 crore.
The Central government has provided ‘Z’ category security to opposition candidate security to opposition presidential candidate.
After Ministry of Home Affairs written a order on Friday, the CRFP has been taken over the security of Sinha.
The moves come day after the CRPF accorded ‘Z+’ category security to NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.
Jairam Ramesh Congress leader made an announcement on June 21 of Sinha name as the presidential candidate of the opposition during meeting. Earlier Sinha was named as the common candidate of the opposition for presidential elections.
The declaration comes soon after Sinha gave some hints that he had agreed to a proposition from some opposition leaders to run as their presidential candidate.
Sinha had left Bhartiya Janta Party in 2018 and joined TMC last year and appointed as vice president later.
The Presidential of India election is schedule on July 18 and counting will be done on July 21.
Eknath Shinde to claim on Shiv Sena's election symbol 'Dhanush Baan' 12
Eknath Shinde won the hearts of ignored Shiv Sainiks. However, another battle may break out in the lead up to the Election Commission. That would be the ‘bow and arrow’ of the Shiv Sena’s election symbol to be frozen first and then the Shinde group’s demand that we get it. In fact, the BJP will be more interested in Shinde and Kampu becoming BJP supporters in the run up to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It is not strange that the BJP has some theoretical difficulty in doing so. Now Shinde Sena’s claim on Shiv Sena’s election symbol Dhanush Baan also seems to be confirmed.
One of the rebel MLS told Afternoon Voice under the condition of anonymity “Eknath Shinde is about to stake claim on the party’s symbols Bow and arrow. Uddhav Thackeray not only abandoned Hindutva but also Shiv Sainiks. We were never given respect, never allowed to meet CM. Our leader Eknath Shinde is about to take the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, Shiv Sena and its election symbol.”
Another Rebel said “Eknath Shinde won the hearts of Shiv Sainiks with his boundless communication and support to us. When we were tired of waiting at Varsha Bungalow to get one glimpse of our leader Uddhav Thackrey, Shinde used to help her in every odd situation. We trust his leadership”.
Uddhav Thackrey took the party and its people for granted by distancing himself as king of the kingdom. He never realized the importance of keeping in touch with grassroot workers or giving them due respect. This baggage of emotions piled up and with time Eknath Shinde beautifully handled the situation by turning the tables. Shiv Sena Vs Shinde Sena battle has now become a battle for the ownership of Shiv Sena. With two-thirds of the 55 Shiv Sena MLAs, that is, more than 37, Eknath Shinde is now claiming that more than 40 MLAs of the party are with him and more MLAs of the party can join him in the future.
