After Shiv Sena and NCP, It Is Congress' Turn For Split In Maharashtra: Shinde Loyalist Claims

Is Congress is heading for a split after Shiv Sena and NCP? Sanjay Shirsat, MLA from the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena has claimed that 16-17 MLAs from the Sena faction are ready to leave the grand old party.

"Many Congress MLAs want to leave the party. I've heard that 16-17 MLAs wish to leave, they are waiting to build a majority among themselves. They will take a decision soon, and Congress will also split," ANI quoted Sanjay Shirsat in a tweet.

Responding to rumours that Ajit Pawar will replace Eknath Shinde as the Maharashtra Chief Minister, he said, "Let me make it clear that Eknath Shinde will remain the CM. Devendra Fadnavis has also clearly said that the next elections will be fought under the leadership of Eknath Shinde."

In June 2022, Eknath Shinde launched a rebellion against the party. The majority of MLAs sided with him, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) government led by Uddhav Thackeray.

In a similar way, Ajit Pawar has rebelled against the party and joined the ruling Shinde government on Sunday along with eight other MLAs.

The factional war to take control over the Nationalist Congress Party and the party symbol has now reached the Election Commission.

On the other hand, former Maharashtra CM and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said that the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra was planned in Delhi. "This politics that Ajit Pawar has to be brought on board, was decided in Delhi. We believe that within a few months, perhaps before August 11 and 12, a decision will have to be made in the ongoing action by Vidhan Sabha against Eknath Shinde. Perhaps he will be suspended because there is no way out," he said.