Maharashtra

"Who is footing the bills of the hotels in Surat (Gujarat) and Guwahati (Assam) as well as the chartered flights?" asked Tapase. His party colleague Clyde Crasto pointed out how the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is saying the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party "is supporting (rebel Shiv Sena MLAs) in Maharashtra".

"Don't invoke my Dad's name, use your father's name, to win the elections," said a livid Thackeray, presiding over a meeting of the Shiv Sena's national executive here this afternoon. His strong reaction came in response to unverified reports that the rebels led by Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde - currently camping in Guwahati - had allegedly decided to rename itself as "Shiv Sena-Balasaheb Thackeray Group".

The affected rebels have also expressed fear that a situation akin to Punjab where the security of several high profile persons was withdrawn by their state government, resulting in their being targeted by the mafia in that state, without naming, referring to the May 29 killing of rap singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu alias 'Moosewala'.

The Shiv Sena has filed a petition with Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, seeking to disqualify 12 MLAs supporting Shinde's rebellion. The disqualification has been sought for flouting the Sena's Whip to attend a meeting of party legislators on Wednesday, said Sena MP Arvind Sawant.

Speaking to the media from Guwahati, Shinde also dismissed the 'warning' issued by Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar that the rebel legislators would have to come to Mumbai before the Governor or the Legislature to prove their strength. "We are not scared by such threats... Whatever we are doing is absolutely legal. We have the affidavits of all the MLAs that they have joined us voluntarily.

On Wednesday evening, Thackeray addressed the state via social media and expressed his readiness to step down from both crucial posts provided the rebels led by Minister Eknath Shinde come to meet him and say they don't want him to continue. However, Shinde promptly spurned the CM's offer, reiterating his pre-condition that the Shiv Sena must first walk out of its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance government with the NCP and Congress.

"I have been tested positive for Covid-19. There are only mild symptoms. However, I have been admitted to a hospital as a precautionary measure," Koshyari said in a tweet later. Koshyari, who celebrated his 80th birthday on June 17 -- is usually seen sporting a face-mask diligently in public. The Covid-19 affliction came a day after the Yoga Day celebrations in Raj Bhavan and a critical political situation developing within the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) during the past 36 hours.

The rebellion of Eknath Shinde, a strong Shiv Sena leader and once close to Balasaheb Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, has put a question mark on the fate of the coalition government in the state. But the BJP, which is being blamed by the Shiv Sena leaders for this crisis, is still in wait-and-watch mode.

State Congress President Nana Patole confirmed the developments though there was no comment from the CM Office. The development came hours after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari tested Corona positive this morning. While the Governor has been admitted to a private hospital for treatment, the CM decided to conduct a 'virtual cabinet' meeting this afternoon.

The 80-year-old Governor has been admitted to the Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in south Mumbai for treatment and his condition has been described as 'stable'. "I have been tested positive for Covid-19. There are only mild symptoms. However, I have been admitted to a hospital as a precautionary measure," Koshyari said in a tweet later.