Maharashtra Politics: 17 MLAs 'missing' along with Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray convenes meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs

Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde has not been in touch with the state government since Monday evening. According to the information, Shinde is in a hotel in Surat, Gujarat with 17 MLAs. Shinde is said to be angry with Shiv Sena. With this move of Shinde, the tension of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has increased. He has called a meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs today (Tuesday) at 12.

Eknath Shinde is a big leader of Shiv Sena. In the MLC elections held on Monday, 11 votes of Shiv Sena were broken and Prasad Lad of BJP won. According to sources, Shinde is currently staying at the Grand Bhagwati Hotel in Surat.

Four candidates each of BJP and ruling coalition allies Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won two candidates each in Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. After the defeat of Congress candidate Chandrakant Handore from Prasad Lad of BJP, the NCP accused the BJP of 'horse-trading'. On the other hand, Shiv Sena alleged that the BJP won by misusing the rights.

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP's victory in five seats in the Legislative Council elections indicates instability among ruling MLAs against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The BJP won all the five seats on which it had fielded candidates in the Legislative Council elections. Fadnavis said that the BJP's victory was ensured with the support of MLAs of all independents and small parties.