There is a big political crisis brewing in Maharashtra. Two factions have been formed in Shiv Sena, which is also the ruling party in the state. One faction is led by the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and the other by Eknath Shinde.
Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray clarifies that Shiv Sena has not left Hindutva nor compromised on it to lead the state government, Eknath Shinde has claimed that by costing up new allies – the NCP and the Congress – Shiv Sena is not in a position to be an ardent advocate of Hindutva as the party has given its approval for incorporating secularism in the common minimum programme finalised at the time of formation of government.
Shinde has thereby hinted that he will be the new Hindu Hruday Samrat and Hindutva will be pursued by joining hands with the BJP.
Here is a time line of all the events that happened ever since Eknath Shinde took 40 MLAs and went to Surat.
On 20 June, Legislative council elections were held and soon after the elections, senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde disappeared and was not reachable.
It was learned that Shinde along with other 11 MLAs, flew to Surat city, in the BJP-governed state of Gujarat.
The next day, a meeting was called by Uddhav Thackeray with all his MLAs but 10-12 MLAs were also found unreachable.
Shinde was removed from the post of the Shiv Sena party whip.
Shiv Sena, in order to not lose more MLAs, housed the rest of their MLAs in several different hotels in Mumbai.
Shinde asked Uddhav Thackeray to break the 'unnatural' MVA alliance and form the government with BJP.
Shinde claimed he has the support of more than 40 MLAs.
Shinde required the support of more than 37 MLAs (two-thirds of the total strength of 55) to avoid being disqualified under the Anti-defection laws in India.
On 22 June, Shinde along with 40 MLAs moves to Guwahati, Assam, another BJP-ruled state.
On the same day, in the evening, Uddhav Thackeray makes an announcement that he is willing to step down as the leader of the alliance and as the chief minister.
Later, he leaves the official residence of the CM, Varsha, and moves to his private residence Matoshree.
Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut accused BJP of causing the revolt within Shiv Sena and attempting to topple the MVA coalition government.
On 23 June, Shinde and 37 MLAs declared Shinde the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature party.
On 24 June, Shiv Sena filed a petition against the rebel MLAs and demanded that Deputy speaker Narahari Zirwal of the Maharashtra Assembly to disqualify 16 MLAs of the Shinde camp. Zirwal met with Shiv Sena leaders and later also met with the Advocate-General of Maharashtra for a legal opinion.
Two independent MLAs supporting BJP brought a no-confidence motion against Zirwal. This no-confidence vote signed by 34 MLAs was rejected by Zirwal because the petition was sent through an anonymous e-mail and not submitted by an MLA himself.
On the same day, Eknath Shinde, Home minister Amit Shah and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met in Vadodara, Gujarat reportedly to plan a merger or coalition to topple the MVA government.
On June 26, Shinde moves the Supreme Court of India to dispute the rejection of the no-confidence vote against the Deputy speaker.
On June 27, the Supreme Court of India kept the next hearing on July 11 and directed the Deputy speaker Zirwal to file a detailed affidavit about the no-confidence motion against him.
