Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said elections in the state could “take place at any time” and his party was ready for it. He made the remark hours after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut predicted that the current Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would collapse in the ‘next 15-20 days’.
“Elections can be held at any time, even today we are ready. The matter is before the Supreme Court and we hope that the verdict will be in our favour. After that, anything can happen anytime,” Thackeray said while addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district.
He further asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to clarify whether elections under CM Shinde will be contested next year, even as the state BJP chief confirmed that the Shinde-faction will be allotted only 48 seats out of the total 288.
“State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, that Shinde’s party will be allotted only 48 seats (out of total 288). Will BJP fight the election under a person who will fight only 48 seats?” he asked.
Thackeray was ousted from his chief ministerial post last year after a faction of rebel leaders led by Eknath Shinde of the former Shiv Sena joined hands with the BJP to form a coalition government in the state, ousting the earlier Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Elections could be happen in any time
As the rift between the two Shiv Sena factions deepened, the Thackeray-led faction moved the Supreme Court earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognized the Shinde-faction as the real Shiv Sena and gave them the “bow and arrow” symbol after trying to assign new names and symbols to both groups.
Referring to CM Shinde and other rebel leaders, Thackeray said his party and supporters will ensure that the “traitors” end politically. “We will see to it that you are done. We have cleansed the stain of a state created because of treason. Maharashtra is a land of brave people and not of traitors,” he said.
Speculations about a realignment of party coalitions in the state are rife. Many are confident that National Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar will soon jump the MVA ship and join the BJP.
However, party chief Sharad Pawar had earlier insisted that no such discussions were taking place within the party. The NCP forms one-third of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress being the other two partners in the tripartite alliance.
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