Uddhav Thackeray Authorised To Act Against Rebels In Key Meet: 10 Points

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a National Executive meeting of the Shiv Sena in Mumbai where six resolutions were cleared by attendees, including one authorising him to take action against the rebels. His side has also challenged a move by the rebels to call themselves "Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray" in a letter to the Election Commission.

"People will come to know what actions will be taken against those who have left the party by the evening. The work that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has done is commendable. We will all fight the elections under his leadership," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.

Earlier, in a setback for the rebel MLAs, Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker rejected the no-confidence motion moved by Eknath Shinde camp against him. Though 33 rebel MLAs had signed the no-confidence motion, none of the MLAs submitted it to the Deputy Speaker's office, choosing instead to send it through an anonymous email ID, sources said.

The Deputy Speaker has also issued notices to the 16 rebel MLAs on the disqualification plea by Team Uddhav. The rebel MLAs have been asked to appear in person or through their counsel on Monday to respond to the disqualification plea, sources told NDTV.

Shiv Sena workers today ransacked the office of rebel party MLA Tanaji Sawant in Pune. Following this, Pune Police issued an alert and directed all police stations to ensure security at offices related to Shiv Sena leaders in the city. Large gatherings have also been banned in Mumbai.

"The Sena is not finished" and that people siding with the BJP must be questioned, Mr Thackeray said. "Those who want to leave are free to go openly.... I will create a new Shiv Sena," Mr Thackeray had said during a party meeting on Friday.

This morning, Mr Shinde tweeted to say that the state government has withdrawn security cover provided at the residences of 16 rebel legislators, including himself, and dubbed the action as "political vendetta". The charges, however, were denied by Sanjay Raut, Sena's chief spokesperson.

Despite being reduced to a minority, Team Uddhav is confident that it will in the event of a trust vote. The party also said that the claims by the Eknath Shinde camp that is "the real Shiv Sena" has no merit. "The Shiv Sena is a registered regional party and Uddhav Thackeray is our chief. We have a Consitution through which party president is selected," Advocate Dharam Mishra from Shiv Sena legal cell told NDTV.

Mr Shinde, at the centre of rebellion against Mr Thackeray, has told NDTV that he has the support of more than 50 MLAs. "Nearly 40 of them are from the Shiv Sena," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The rebels are camping at a five-star hotel on the outskirts of Assam's main city, Guwahati. A young MP, known to be close to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is the pointsman, sources said, adding at least three Assam BJP ministers are closely overseeing logistical matters at the Guwahati hotel.