About 40 rebel Shiv Sena and Independent MLAs left Surat to Guwahati in a charter flight

Surat (Gujarat) [India]: About 40 rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra’s Cabinet Minister Eknath Shinde were shifted from Surat to Guwahati on the early hours of Wednesday. The move comes at a time when the rebel MLAs were camping in a four-star hotel in Surat and the political crisis deepened in Maharashtra.

Sources said Eknath Shinde along with 40 Shiv Sena MLAs flew from the Surat airport in a special SpiceJet charter aircraft at about 4.30 am. Before leaving the hotel, the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were made to sign affidavits vouching for their support to Shinde.

About seven independent MLAs who came along with Shinde from Maharashtra and were staying at the Le Meridian hotel on the Surat-Dumas road are also accompanying the rebel MLAs to  Guwahati.

Sources said that another four to five MLAs of Shiv Sena have left Maharashtra and will be reaching Surat in the evening. The rebel MLAs are taken care of by the local BJP leaders under the leadership of Gujarat BJP Chief CR Paatil.

A political analyst said Gujarat BJP Chief CR Paatil and Maharashtra’s former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis have been successful in denting a hole in Shiv Sena and creating a political crisis. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackrey is likely to dissolve the Assembly due to the rebellious movement by the Shiv Sena MLAs.

Sources said the rebel Shiv Sena and Independent MLAs have reached Guwahati. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswas Sarma met the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and assured them all the support for their safe stay in Assam.

It is learnt that Gujarat BJP Chief CR Paatil is likely to visit Guwahati to meet the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and discuss the further strategy.

Eknath Shinde, the cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government stated that they will be carrying on the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackrey.