Shiv Sena

"Myself and 39 other MLAs accompanied me. We are loyal to Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology of 'Hindutva' and we are keen to take it forward," the dissident Shiv Sena leader said, refusing to disclose details and their future course of action. When asked by the reporters why they have come to the BJP ruled Assam, Shinde said: "It is a nice place."

Before boarding the flight, rebel Shiv Sena leader and Maharastra Cabinet Minister Eknath Shinde said that Sena MLAs have not revolted against the party but their only wish is forming an alliance with the opposition BJP. At the Surat airport, Shinde said, "My and Sena MLAs wish is that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should form a government in alliance with the BJP, I have not quit the party."

As BJP's surgical strike on Shiv Sena rattled the leadership of three parties -- the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena, the Congress has rushed its state in-charge H.K. Patil and Pawar is also reaching Mumbai to save the government. While Congress has maintained that its flock is together, sign of bickerings is evident in the MLC polls as Congress' second candidate lost to BJP and in Rajya Sabha polls too, BJP managed to get through.

Thackeray on Tuesday afternoon deputed two leaders -- Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak to drive to Surat and have a one-on-one meeting with Eknath Shinde. Sources said that after almost one-and-a-half hour close door meeting, Milind left for Mumbai. Before leaving his statement was, "Eknath Shinde had telephonic conversation with Uddhav Thackeray."

First, the three parties conducted a headcount and "secured" their own legislators from the lurking Bharatiya Janata Party which has virtually launched "Operation Lotus" to bring down the MVA. The Sena moved swiftly to contact the estimated dozen-odd MLAs who are reportedly siding with the rebel leader, Minister Eknath Shinde and have gone or were lured to Gujarat's Surat since late on Monday and early on Tuesday.

Highly placed sources said that first 11 rooms were booked in Le Meridien hotel, and around 9.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, 11 MLAs arrived in Surat and checked in the hotel. The other big group led by Maharashtra Urban development minister Eknath Shinde reached Surat around 1.30 a.m. with 14 MLAs on Tuesday.

The ED teams simultaneously reached over half a dozen locations in Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Pune, including Parab's official bungalow here and carried out searches. The action follows a complaint lodged by the agency in an alleged money-laundering case against Parab.

"We have nothing against Sambhajiraje... If he has said he will contest independently, then he must have arranged for his 42 votes," Raut retorted, and reiterated the Sena stance on the issue. Since the past couple of days there has been political speculation that the Sena would be prepared to field Sambhajiraje provided he joined the party and was reportedly given a 'deadline' till 12 noon Monday (May 23) to decide.

Sena's anxiety for the Congress - a ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally in Maharashtra - came on a crucial day when the grand old party was observing the death anniversary of the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It pointed out how the party lost leaders like Sunil Jakhar, Hardik Patel and in the past Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada, yet - despite the outflow - everyone in Congress talks of 'reviving' the party.

Inspector General of Police, Patiala Range, Rakesh Aggarwal told the media the situation was under control and heavy police deployed. "The tension started following rumours that some of the protesters had been attacked," he said. A police officer got injuries while trying to stop the Nihangs heading towards the temple, the police said.