CM Shinde To Move His Team Back To Mumbai

Team Shinde claims to be the real 'Shiv Sena' to the SC

Ahead of heading as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra Govt., Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is likely to return to Mumbai from Goa today along with rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, sources. Mr. Shinde travelled to Goa last night, his second visit since taking the oath.

On Monday, Team Shinde has been asked to prove its majority in the Maharashtra assembly.

Coming Monday will be crucial for the state as that day is likely to witness high-voltage action in the Supreme Court, where Team Thackeray has filed petitions seeking to disqualify 15 Sena rebels, including Mr. Shinde.

Another petition by the new Chief Minister's camp challenging the disqualification attempt will also be heard on Monday.

Reduced to a minority in the party founded by his father, Uddhav Thackeray, on Friday, removed Mr. Shinde from the post of Sena leader in the party organisation.

According to a statement issued by the party, Mr Thackeray said that Mr Shinde has been indulging in "anti-party activities" and has voluntarily given up his membership.

"In exercise of the powers vested in me as the Shivsena Paksha Pramukha, I remove you from the post of Shivsena Leader in the party organisation," the letter signed by Uddhav Thackeray said.

While Mr. Shinde has claimed that he is the leader of Shiv Sena, he never called himself Paksha Pramukh (party chief). Mr Thackeray is technically still the party chief.

Team Shinde has declared in the SC that they are the real Shiv Sena. The rebels argue that Mr. Thackeray has diluted the Hindutva ideology of his father Bal Thackeray by forming a coalition with Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress instead of the "natural ally" BJP.

Uddhav Thackeray resigned as the Chief Minister on Thursday after the Supreme Court refused to stay the test of strength ordered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.