Maha CM Shinde in hometown amidst reports of political realignment

With the buzz around a realignment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has reached his home village of Dare Tarfe Taam, in Satara district.

The move comes ahead of the Supreme Court's decision over the disqualification of several Shiv Sena MLas on the grounds of defection last year.

According to a Times of India report, Shinde had met with the district collectors on Monday. He announced that he will going to the Dare village on an unofficial visit. Details of his tour have however not been made official as yet by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Post his landing, Shinde was received by district officials. He reached his village in an official chopper.

Following his visit, the opposition parties minced no words and took a dig at the alliance of the Shiv Sena and BJP. Minister Uday Samant however cleared the air and said that Shinde had gone to take part in a village fair. Shinde's supporters claimed that he had arrived to listen to Prayan, a discourse by a spiritual thinker.

Meanwhile the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) said that Shinde is on his way out. Who would be his rubber-stamp successor, the party asked.

The BJP on the other hand rubbished a claim by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut. He had claimed that a change of Chief Minister is being plotted in Delhi. BJP spokesperson, Ram Kadam said that Raut is clearly rattled and is daydreaming like 'Mungerilal ke sapne' with such comments."

Raut had said that Shinde had not lived up to the expectations of the BJP and there are moves underway in Delhi to topple him.