Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra following a rebellion by senior Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde and others, the loyalists of party president and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took out a two-wheeler rally in Mumbai and held protests in parts of Pune against the dissident leaders on Sunday.
Sena workers and its local functionaries, led by the Pune city unit president Gajanan Tharkude, staged 'jode maro' (hit with footwear) protests at two places - outside Balgandharva auditorium and in Kothrud - and raised slogans against the rebels.
On Saturday, Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said Shiv Sena workers should understand that he was fighting to save the party from the clutches of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Mr Shinde's appeal came after Sena workers loyal to party president and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray staged protests against the rebel MLAs led by him by defacing their banners, hurling stones in some places and vandalising the office of an MLA in Pune.
Here are the LIVE updates on the Maharashtra Crisis:
#Watch: Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs celebrate the birthday of Narendra Bhondekar, MLA from Bhandara, at the Guwahati hotel where they are currently staying.#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/Vg93sfN28v
- NDTV (@ndtv) June 26, 2022
Shiv Sena workers hold a protest against rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde as well as other rebel MLAs in Nagpur.
#MaharashtraCrisis | Shiv Sena workers hold a protest against rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde as well as other rebel MLAs in Nagpur.
- NDTV (@ndtv) June 26, 2022
(ANI) pic.twitter.com/IdqiH9dBic
#MaharashtraPolitcalCrisis | "There are floods in the state (Assam) but money is being spent just for their (rebel MLAs) stay": Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray pic.twitter.com/b9oyFI72S9
- NDTV (@ndtv) June 26, 2022
At least 20 MLAs camping with rebel leader Eknath Shinde are reportedly in touch with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, sources have told NDTV. NDTV has also learnt that some of the rebels are against with the group merging with the BJP.
Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray has dared the Shiv Sena rebels, led by minister Eknath Shinde, to quit the party and face elections, amid a worsening political crisis in the state.
Sanjay Raut, the chief spokesperson of Shiv Sena, which is battling a rebellion led by senior leader Eknath Shinde, today took a swipe at the rebel leaders camping in BJP-ruled Assam.