Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde today told NDTV that more than 50 MLAs are supporting him in his revolt against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. “Around forty of them are Shiv Sena,” Mr Shinde, who is camping in BJP-ruled Assam, told NDTV in an extraordinary interview.
“Those who trust our function will be part of us. We want to carry forward Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology, those who like it will come,” Mr Shinde said, insisting the rebels had not left Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.
Mr Shinde, 58, also said that Kru Thackeray’s move to file a disqualification petition in opposition to the rioting legislators was “illegal”. “What was done last day is illegal, they have no right. We are the majority people and numbers matter in a democracy. It’s illegal, they can’t even do such a suspension. We will not be intimidated by it anymore,” he said.
Mr. Shinde, 37, reached the required number of legislators, required to split the party in the meeting without falling foul of the anti-defection law. As of yesterday, 37 Shiv Sena MLAs and 9 independents are with him.
Mr Shinde said there was “no discussion” between the rebels and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena chief.
