#MaharashtraCrisis: Sena MLAs shifted to hotel. Karnataka 2.0?
What's the story
Maharashtra is where all (unending) action of Indian politics is taking place. The state went to polls on October 21, results were declared three days later, but there's no government in sight, courtesy the raging war between allies BJP and Shiv Sena. As all eyes have turned towards the western state, Sena shifted its MLAs to a hotel to prevent "poaching". Here's what happened.
Context
Wondering what's happening in Maharashtra exactly? Let's tell you
For the 288-seated Maharashtra Assembly, Sena and BJP contested together. On October 24, BJP won 105 seats, and Sena scooped away 58 seats. Aware of the fact that BJP will need its support to stake a claim for government formation, Sena demanded a rotational Chief Minister arrangement. BJP refused, saying Devendra Fadnavis will get another term. Their disagreement pushed Maharashtra into crisis.
Meetings
BJP announced meeting with Governor, Sena also pulled its cards
Now, on Wednesday, BJP announced its leaders would meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, despite the stalemate. Sena too acted and its chief Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting with MLAs. The legislators apparently left the decision on their boss. The bunch of MLAs told Thackeray that 50-50 formula, which was agreed upon before April-May general elections, should be implemented. The meeting lasted for an hour.
Details
Wary of defections, Sena housed its MLAs in hotel
After the meeting, the MLAs were seen entering Rangsharda, a small hotel not far from Thackeray residence Matoshree. "Resort politics" made an appearance in Maharashtra amid speculations that some Sena MLAs might switch sides. "It is necessary for all the MLAs to be together in the prevailing situation. Whatever decision Uddhav ji takes will be binding on all of us," Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu said.
Twitter Post
Will do what Uddhav says: MLA
Gulabrao Patil, Shiv Sena MLA after meeting party chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree: We (Shiv Sena MLAs) will be staying at Hotel Rangsharda for next 2 days. We will do whatever Uddhav Sahab asks us to do. pic.twitter.com/LICnhfOozC
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019
Statement
Few hours ago, Raut said Sena's MLAs won't be shifted
The MLAs got a new address for a few days, hours after Sanjay Raut warned BJP against "coming near" his party's legislators. "Our MLAs are committed to the party and do not need sequestering to keep them from defecting. No party will break in Maharashtra," the parliamentarian leading the attack against BJP said. He also asked "naysayers" to worry about their MLAs.
Twitter Post
Subsequently, he also claimed Sena has the numbers. But how?
Sanjay Raut: If you (BJP) have the numbers,form the govt. If you don't have the numbers then admit it. Constitution is for the people of this country,it is not their (BJP's) personal property.We know the constitution well.We'll form CM of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra constitutionally https://t.co/Tw1YL3Ubvl
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019
Meeting
In the meantime, BJP delegation met the Governor
While Sena's MLAs remained in a flock, a BJP delegation including Girish Mahajan, Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar and Ashish Shelar met Koshyari. "Today, we met the Governor to discuss the legal options and political situation in the state," Patil told ANI. Interestingly, the term of Maharashtra's Assembly ends on Saturday. To some of us, it looks like Karnataka 2.0.