Maharashtra : Uddhav Thackeray as president in Eknath Shinde’s party, formation of new national executive
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday formed a new national executive of his party Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). The pro-Shinde MLAs elected Eknath Shinde as the party’s main leader and Uddhav Thackeray was elected the party’s national president. Eknath Shinde can give another blow to Uddhav Thackeray. It is believed that 12 out of the 18 Shiv Sena MPs may extend their support to the Shinde faction. Eknath Shinde is in Delhi and he is likely to meet the Lok Sabha speaker along with the MPs.
A leader of the Shinde faction said, “The decision to nominate Uddhav Thackeray ji as the party chief and Shinde as the main leader has been taken in view of the legal battle between the two who control the real Shiv Sena.” This indicates that the Shinde camp is sticking to its demands and insisting that it has not parted ways with the Shiv Sena, but represents the ‘true’ face of the party.
According to the leaders of the Shinde faction, after the formation of the new National Executive, the Shinde faction can meet the Election Commission and claim its faction as the real Shiv Sena. On the other hand, the leaders who have been kept by the Shinde faction in its executive, Uddhav Thackeray showed them the way out of the party. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that the executive body of Shinde faction has no statutory recognition.
At the same time, Uddhav Thackeray has started the work of reinforcing Shiv Sena and in this episode he showed many rebel leaders out of the party. Along with this, Uddhav Thackeray appointed more than 100 office bearers in other districts including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Palghar.
After the meeting, the Shinde faction formed the new National Executive of Shiv Sena and also announced the dissolution of the former executive formed by Uddhav Thackeray. After being sacked by Uddhav Thackeray, the Shinde faction appointed MLA Deepak Kesarkar as spokesperson and Ramdas Kadam and former MP Anandrao Adsul as leaders of the Shiv Sena party. Ramdas Kadam had sent his resignation to Matoshree on Monday.
