Maharashtra Political Crisis highlights: Hours after offering to quit as CM, Uddhav leaves CM's official residence

As the political crisis in Maharashtra grows deeper, Eknath Shinde, the leader of the rebellion in the ruling Shiv Sena appointed his own chief whip. The power move by Shinde came after Thackeray gave rebel MLAs an ultimatum to be present at a party meeting at 5 pm today. Rebel MLAs have passed a resolution saying Eknath Shinde continues to be leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party. The letter has been sent to Governor. Meanwhile, Uddhav offered to step down as CM if any of the rebel MLAs ask him to do so.

Hours after offering to quit as chief minister amid rebellion by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray leaves CM's official residence in south Mumbai for family's Matoshri bungalow in suburban Bandra

Another chartered plane with four MLAs from Maharashtra arrived here on Wednesday to join the rebel Shiv Sena legislators who reached the city earlier in the day, sources said.

The four MLAs -- Chandrakant Patil, Yogesh Kadam, Manjula Gavit and Gulabrao Patil -- arrived in the evening from Surat in Gujarat like the legislators who came here along with Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde in the morning.

Shiv Sena and Shiv Sainiks weakened as ruling alliance partners Congress and NCP got boost, says Eknath Shinde

No Shiv Sena MLA in touch with us, says BJP leader Raosaheb Patil Danve

Thackeray comes out to greet his supporters after his meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule

'Flood-hit Assam needs revenue': CM Himanta Biswa Sarma 'welcomes' rebel Maharashtra MLAs

Hours after a group of Maharashtra MLAs led by dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde reached Assam and were put up in a luxury hotel, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that he welcomes all to visit Assam as the state needs revenue to deal with the devastating flood.

He also said, without elaborating, that he will be happy if Assam becomes an "international political epicentre".

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Uddhav offers to step down as Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena chief

In an emotionally-charged address, Uddhav Thackeray offered to step down as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena President if any of the rebel MLAs ask him to do so.However, he also said that he is still committed to the cause of Hindutva.

He said that in the past two-and-a-half years he has received tremendous support from the administration.

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CM posts will come and go, affection of the people real asset, says Thackeray

CM posts will come and go but the real asset is the affection of the people. In the past twoyears, I was fortunate enough to get a lot of affection from people, Thackeray says.

It's very shameful for me if even a single MLA is against me, says Thackeray.

If any MLA wants me to not continue as the CM, I am ready to take all my belongings from Versha Bungalow (official residence of the CM) to Matoshri, says Thackeray.

"When my own people (MLAs) don't want me what I can say. If they had something against me, what was the need of saying all this in Surat, they could have come here and said this to my face," says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

Thackeray said that he will not fight for the CM chair. "I will be happy if another person from Shiv Sena succeeds me as CM if I quit," he said.

I am keeping the resignation ready. Shiv Sainiks who don't want me as CM can take it and submit it to Governor, says Thackeray.

Stating that he has kept his promise to Balasaheb, Thackeray said that he has fulfilled his resposibilities and duties as a chief minister. "Some people say that it's not Balasaheb's Shiv Sena. They should tell what were the thoughts of Bala Saheb. This is the same Shiv Sena that it was at his time 'Hindutva' is our life," he said.

Thackeray claims that he has been getting calls from MLAs who have gone with Eknath Shinde who are claiming that they were forcibly taken away.

Couldn't meet people in last few months due to health condition, says Uddhav

"It's true that I could not meet people in the last few months due to my surgery and health condition. But now, I have started meeting people," says Thackeray.

Shiv Sena can't be separated from Hindutva, says Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

During his address, Thackeray invokes 'Hindutva' ideology after 34 MLAs back Eknath Shinde.

Watch CM Uddhav Thackeray's address to the public live below:

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will interact with the people soon.

Eknath Shinde is likely to address the media after Uddhav Thackeray's address to people of the state.

Rebel MLAs say Eknath Shinde still leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party, send letter to Governor

Bharat Gogawale said thatShiv Sena Legislature Party resolution passed yesteraday which carries signatures of 34 MLAs states thatEknath Shinde continues to be leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party. The letterhas been sent to Governor, saysGogawale.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to interact with the public through Facebook Live at 5 pm today.

A chartered flight carrying Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and 4 MLAs leave for Guwahati from Surat.

Eknath Shinde says MLA Bharat Gogawale appointed chief whip of Shiv Sena legislature party

No difficulties, everything will be alright. Govt will continue: Maharashtra Min & Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat when asked about political crisis & if Govt will continue for 5 yrs"No. No discussion is needed," on if political crisis was discussed in cabinet meet

Shiv Sena issues letter to all party MLAs asking them to be present in meeting

Shiv Sena's Chief Whip, Sunil Prabhu issues a letter to all party MLAs, asking them to be present in an important meeting that will be held today evening. The letter states that if someone remains absent, it'll be considered that the said MLA has decided to quit the party voluntarily.

Prime minister Narendra Modi came last week to meet Tukaram and took away Eknath,” says Cabinet minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal

No decision on CM's resignation yet, says Raut

I'm going to Varsha Bungalow. I'll meet CM but whatever has to be done will be decided by Maha Vikas Aghadi together. Unless the MLAs are back in Mumbai, no decision will be made: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut when asked about speculations that Uddhav Thackeray will resign as CM

Shiv Sena loyalist among rebels walks miles to reach Uddhav Thackeray's residence

Shiv Sena MLA Kailas Patil, an MLA from Osmanabad in Marathwada region, literally escaped from the rebellion led by party veteran Eknath Shinde.

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Attempts being made to kidnap MLAs, says Sanjay Raut

When such a situation forms in any state, Vidhan Sabha is dissolved. Attempts are being made to kidnap MLAs & take them outside. You would've heard MLA Nitin Deshmukh, how was he thrashed, wrongfully hospitalised, teated & injected. He says it was an attempt to murder him: Sanjay Raut

Mumbai: State cabinet meeting concludes, NCP Ministers leave from the venue.

We have 46 MLAs and many more would join: Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde

Following Hindutva ideology, don't call us rebels, says Eknath Shinde

State cabinet meeting begins. CM Uddhav Thackeray joins via video conferencing: CMO

Have talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray and he said that as of now there's no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra Assembly: Congress leader Kamal Nath

Unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray, says Kamal Nath

41 MLAs out of 44 MLAs attended the meeting here while 3 are on the way. The politics BJP has started is of money & muscle power which is against the constitution. I have seen this a lot...Unity will prevail in Shiv Sena under Udhhav Thackeray: Congress leader Kamal Nath

Congress Legislative Party meeting has begun. Cabinet ministers are going for a meeting. All our 44 MLAs are with us: Minister and party leader Balasaheb Thorat

Discussions with Eknath Shinde positive: Sanjay Raut

Even as rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde along with some party MLAs have moved to Guwahati in Assam, Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said he has been holding discussions with Shinde and the talks are "positive".

Meanwhile, NCP leaders Supriya Sule and Ramraje Nimbalkar arrive at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai ahead of Congress meeting

Sanjay Raut hints at the dissolution of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly amid political crisis

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut hints at the dissolution of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly amid the current political crisis in the state. He tweets, "The ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra is heading to the dissolution of Vidhan Sabha."

BJP building an 'Oppn-free' India, says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

BJP's goal is to capture the entire India. If an Oppn party speaks against them, they don't tolerate it. They're walking the path of building an 'Oppn-free India'. First they said 'Congress-mukt' India, now they changed it to 'vipaksh-mukt': AR Chowdhury on Maharashtrapolitical crisis

Rise of such politics sets a dangerous precedent for the future: Kamal Nath

The kind of politics, that is driven by wealth, in states like Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, is antithetical to the Constitution of India. The rise of such politics sets a dangerous precedent for the future: Kamal Nath, Congress Observer for Maharashtra

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has spoken to rebel Eknath Shinde in the morning today. "We hope all of them will be back," he said.

We are upset with NCP, Cong style of functioning, have no complaints against Sena chief: Rebel MLAs

A Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister, who is among the dissidents led by party leader Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday said they do not have any complaints against the Sena leadership, but they have been upset with the style of the function of the NCP and Congress, the other two ruling alliance partners in the state.

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Talks underway with MLAs, everybody will stay in Shiv Sena, assures Sanjay Raut

Talks are underway with MLAs who are with Eknath Shinde, everybody will stay in Shiv Sena. Our party is a fighter, we'll struggle consistently, at most we might lose power but we'll continue to fight: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

Eknath Shinde is our very old party member, he is our friend, we've worked together for decades. It's neither easy for him nor for us to leave each other. I had a conversation with him for an hour this morning & the party chief was intimated about it: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Patil also arrives at the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai for a meeting

Two more Shiv Sena MLAs - Sanjay Rathod and Yogesh Kadam - may be joining the rebels led by Eknath Shinde in Guwahat

Assam can provide 'royal treatment to Sena MLAs but can't provide flood relief', says Cong leader

Congress in Assam says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma can provide "royal treatment" to the Shiv Sena's rebel MLAs but cant provide adequate relief to lakhs of flood-affected people, president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Bhupen Kumar Borah tweeted

Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde said that they do not want to stay with NCP and Congress

Kamal Nath and other senior Congress leaders likely to meet CM Uddhav Thackeray after the meeting: Maharashtra Congress Sources

A meeting of the Congress Legislative Party is to take place today in the presence of AICC Observer for the state Kamal Nath. 43 MLAs to be present in the meeting: Maharashtra Congress Sources

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma met the MLAs in the hotel. More meetings likely

More MLAs expected to join us in Assam: Rebel MLA

More MLAs are expected to join us in the next three to four days, says Prahar Janshakti Party leader and minister Bacchu Kadu, who is accompanying rebel Shiv Senaleader Eknath Shinde

Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs welcomed by BJP Lok Sabha member from Assam, Pallab Lochan Das and MLA Sushanta Borgohain in Assam

Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are lodged in a hotel in Guwahati

Maharashtra power tussle: Who is where?

Shiv Sena houses its MLAs in Mumbai hotels to avoid poaching

The Shiv Sena has housed its MLAs in different hotels in Mumbai after its senior leader andMaharashtraminister Eknath Shinde rebelled against the party and camped at Surat in Gujarat along with some fellow dissident legislators, an MLA said on Tuesday night.

Maharashtra cabinet meeting scheduled for today at 1 pm

Chandrakant Patil says BJP has ‘nothing to do’ with Shinde’s mutiny

Amid the shocking political developments that have put the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition in a predicament, the Bharatiya Janata Party asserted on Tuesday that the party has nothing to do with the rebellion of Shiv Sena veteran Eknath Shinde.

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