Aaditya Thackeray makes big claim amid Maharashtra political turmoil

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said that he has heard Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde has been asked to resign as the Shinde-Fadnavis government is going to make some changes after the induction of the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar.

"I have heard that Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) has been asked to resign and there might be some change (in the government)," Aaditya Thackeray was quoted as saying by the media.

Thackeray's remarks come amid rumours that the BJP is sidelining the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde group after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rebel Ajit Pawar and his followers became part of the ruling regime.

Attacking the Eknath Shinde group, which forced Uddhav Thackeray to step down from Chief Minister’s position a year ago, Aaditya Thackeray said the level of politics in Maharashtra has gone too low and wondered what will happen to the “traitors” (the MLAs of Shinde camp), who were ministers in the Mahavikas Aghadi government a year ago.

Following the political turmoil, the BJP state unit called a meeting of the party leaders at Mumbai's Garware club on Friday evening and reassured and calmed all the BJP Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) following the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders joining the BJP-Shiv Sena government.

A top Shiv Sena (UBT) leader recently asserted that approximately 20 MLAs from Shinde's faction have been in contact with their party following the entry of NCP leader Ajit Pawar into the state government.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde has made it clear that he is not stepping down and there is no rebel in Shiv Sena amid change in political equation in the ruling government.

Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said the MLAs, MPs have reposed faith in Eknath Shinde, adding that the reports of dissatisfaction within the party are part of a conspiracy to malign Eknath Shinde.