Amid the evolving political crisis after revolt by senior minister Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has convened a crucial national executive meeting at 1 pm on Saturday to review the present situation and decide the future course of action.
Thackeray will join virtually. The executive members included tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, former chief minister Manohar Joshi, industry minister Subhas Desai, former ministers Leeladhar Dhake, Diwakar Raote and Ramdas Kadam, party MPs Sanjay Raut and Gajanan Kirtikar, former MPs Anant Geete, Anand Adbul and Chandrakant Khaire.
Incidentally, Eknath Shinde is also a member of the national executive. He is currently campaigning with over 37 party legislators and more than 7 independents at Guwahati. The meeting is expected to reaffirm faith and confidence in Thackeray’s leadership and pass a resolution in this regard.
A senior Shiv Sena leader told the Free Press Journal, ‘’The party has to convene regularly the national executive meeting as per the party’s constitution. The meeting slated for Saturday is as per the party’s constitutional provision. However, it is certainly important when Shinde has challenged the leadership of the party president and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The legislative and legal battle is inevitable as Shinde has claimed with crossing the two-thirds mark of 55 legislators, it is now a real legislative party and Team Shinde also proposes to stake its claim that it is a real Shiv Sena and should get the poll symbol of bone and arrow.’’
He said that the national executive meeting will also explore the option of suspension or expulsion of party legislators including Shinde for the present revolt by breaching the provisions of the party’s constitution.
