Maharashtra Assembly Session Updates: Shinde camp moves to disqualify Uddhav's 16 MLAs

Ahead of the floor test tomorrow, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the rebel Shiv Sena held a meeting at Taj President, Colaba. 

Post-meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party, leader Dhananjay Munde informed that there was a discussion on the floor test. Also, on who will be the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly. Four names have been shortlisted, as per Munde. 

Uddhav camp files a disqualification petition against Rebel MLAs with Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Disqualification petition accessed. 

Nationalist Congress Party meeting is presently underway at YB Chavan's residence. The meeting is on the floor test that is scheduled to take place in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow. Party chief Sharad Pawar will do Press Conference after the meeting, Republic learnt. 

Rahul Narwekar, a first-time MLA, was elected as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Sunday defeating Shiv Sena candidate Rajan Salvi. The post of the Speaker was vacant after Congress' Nana Patole resigned from the office in February 2021, to take charge as the party's state unit chief. In the absence of a Speaker, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal was playing the part of an acting Speaker in the House.

The Speaker elections were held after Eknath Shinde, who led a rebellion to bring down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on June 30. The new Maharashtra Cabinet has called a special session of the state assembly for two days-- July 3 and July 4.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Narwekar is the "youngest speaker" in the country. Interesting, Narvekar father-in-law Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member is the Chairman of the state Legislative Council.

"Rahul Narwekar is the youngest Speaker of the Assembly, not only in Maharashtra but across the country... He is the son-in-law of the Legislative Council Chairman who is from NCP, Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar. So Assembly Speaker is Rahul Narwekar, the son-in-law and Legislative Council chairman, Ramraje Naik Nimbalakar is the father-in-law," Fadnavis added.

The new Speaker was associated with the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena in the past.

Narwekar (45), a sitting MLA from Colaba, left Shiv Sena in 2014 to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Maval constituency as a NCP candidate. However, he suffered defeat but was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council and remained its member till 2019.

He contested the Assembly elections from the Colaba seat on BJP's ticket and emerged victorious.

Narwekar (45) received a total of 164 votes in support and 107 went to Shiv Sena candidate's account. During the Speaker elections, 12 members were absent and 3 legislators abstained from the voting. In the two-day special session of the Assembly beginning Sunday, the Shinde-Fadnavis government will have to prove its majority on the floor of the House on Monday in a Vote of Confidence.

Republic has learnt that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and all MLAs will be meeting at 7 PM in Taj President Hotel, Colaba. 

After the election of Rahul Narwekar as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, he was felicitated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as Shiv Sena. 

BJP and Shiv Sena workers were seen celebrating Rahul Narwekar's election as New Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde congratulated Rahul Narwekar on becoming the new Assembly Speaker. He took to Twitter and stated, "Congratulations and best wishes to the newly elected Speaker of the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, Mr. Rahul Narwekar."

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of the party later today. Two topics to be taken up for discussion - Trust Vote and the leader from the party who will be chosen as the Leader of Opposition, said NCP leader Jayant Patil.

"I supported, and never asked for any post because we wanted secularism in the state. In the House, they once said they are proud that Shivsainiks demolished Babri masjid. We tolerated that so BJP may not come to power. But now they renamed Aurangabad and Osmanabad. Muslims are being targeted by BJP, Uddhav and now Shinde as well. Hinduism is not wrong, spreading hatred is," said Abu Asim Azmi, SP, Maharashtra president, and MLA.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and State Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar pose together for a photo, in Mumbai.

In a major development following the election of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Shiv Sena (Shinde camp) Chief Whip Bharat Gogawale informed the House that they are moving towards disqualification of 16 MLAs in Uddhav Thackeray's camp. 

"We had been asking Devendra Fadanvis for a rotational CM post for 2.5 years. If he had agreed to that, this situation would not have arrived and most probably it would have changed too (as 2.5 yrs are already passed)," Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray in the State Assembly.

1) Nilesh Lanke 
2) Dilip Mohite
3) Dattatray Bharane
4) Baban Shinde
5) Anna Bansode

Additionally, NCP MLAs (6) Anil Deshmukh and (7) Nawab Malik are in jail.

10) Congress - Praniti Shinde
11) Mufti Ismail - AIMIM
12) Ramesh Latke - Shivsena (No more) 
13) Dy Speaker Narhari cannot participate in the voting process

"Vishwanath Anand is a great player of chess. He defeated many world chess players. When he was asked that will you play one game with Amit Shah, he denied. He said he won't play with Amit Shah. Because Amit Shah plays only one move, and in that one move where everyone goes, no one has an idea," Bhujbal remarked.  

"The entire state of Maharashtra was shocked when Fadnavis announced that Eknath Shinde as the Chief Minister. There was pin-drop silence. Many BJP workers too cried and thought about what would happen next," said NCP leader and former state minister Ajit Pawar. 

"Today a new record has been set in the state of Maharashtra... Rahul Narwekar is the youngest MLA to be elected Speaker till now. I extend my greeting to him. The post of a Speaker is a great opportunity," DyCM Fadnavis.

"In the last 10-15 days, whatever happened, everyone has witnessed. Today Shivsena-BJP is back in power in Maharashtra. We are taking the legacy of the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray," said CM Eknath Shinde. 

"Some said, we are in touch with some MLAs, sometimes it's 5, then 10, 20, and 25. I asked him to name them and would have provided them with the special charter flight. I was not expecting anything, but BJP respected our democracy and supported it. Whatever the perception or anticipation, it turned out to be wrong," he said further.

In a big win for Eknath Shinde camp and ally BJP, MLA Rahul Narwekar was voted new Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly. 

Samajwadi Party (SP) abstained from voting against BJP candidate Rahul Narwekar. Both its MLAs Abu Azmi and Raees Shaikh kept sitting during the head count. The SP had recently expressed objection to the Uddhav government's move to rename Aurangabad. 

NDA candidate Rahul Narwekar receives over 169 votes, crosses halfway mark to become the next Maharashtra Speaker.

Criticizing the government's move to build the metro car shed in the Aarey colony, former environment minister Aaditya Thackeray urged CM Eknath Shinde not to "punish Mumbaikars for the purpose of revenge."

Shiv Sena leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray took a dig at the Eknath Shinde faction, who traveled to the Vidhan Bhavan together in a bus. Questioning the high-level security arrangements for their commutation, Thackeray asked, "What are you scared of? Where are the MLAs running away?"

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan for the Assembly session. Speaking to reporters on the outcome of the Speaker's election, he said, "Shiv Sena's internal fight has reached the Vidhan Bhavan too. Shinde's 40 MLAs have shown a victory sign. They claim to have the 'super power' with them. But the real superpower is democracy. Let's see who wins."

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has departed for Vidhan Bhavan along with rebel Shiv Sena MLAs who were stationed at Taj hotel in Mumbai. The Assembly session will commence at 11 AM today to elect the Speaker of the House.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has departed for the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan. The crucial session to elect the Assembly Speaker will begin at 11 AM today. 

Sudhir Mungantiwar BJP MLA said the party is not required to issue a whip for the election of the Speaker. Expressing confidence in winning the Speaker polls, he said, "We have the support of 165 to 170 MLAs. No whip is not required for the election of the Speaker of the House. There will be an open voting system, not by secret ballot. I think and hope that our friends in Congress and NCP will also support our candidate because (our candidate) is very capable."

Donning saffron phetas and traditional attires, rebel Shiv Sena MLAs left the Taj President hotel in style on Sunday. The legislators are headed to the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan where a new Speaker will be elected today. Showing a sign of victory, the MLAs unitedly raised slogans in favour of the party.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena issued a whip to all MLAs on Saturday, asking them to vote in large numbers, in favour of BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar, the ruling government's candidate for the Speaker's election today. A meeting in this regard was held by Shinde, Deputy CM Fadnavis, and all rebel MLAs at the Taj President Hotel in Mumbai on Saturday evening. 

After the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra decided to shift the Mumbai Metro 3 car shed to Aarey colony, MNS chief Raj Thackeray's son Amit said  he was shocked by this development. He requested the government reconsider its decision.

"The new decision by the new government is shocking for me and innumerable environment activists and lovers. The youth of the state had earlier struggled hard against the move. Some were even put in jail."

"We definitely need development but not at the cost of the environment. If our environment is completely destroyed then there will be no one left for politics or to be ruled upon. The politicians should take note of this."

Ahead of the Speaker's election, NCP President Sharad Pawar pointed to speculations about possible cross-voting in the Assembly today. 

"It is being said that the rebel MLAs who returned to Mumbai yesterday will change their minds and vote in our favour during the Speaker's election. However, I do not think so. I have no contact with those rebel MLAs. I am in touch with Shiv Sena leaders but not with those MLAs. I don’t know exactly what they will do," Pawar told the media. 

In Eknath Shinde's first test since becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, an Assembly session to elect a new Speaker of the House will be convened today. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance) has fielded Shiv Sena MLA Rajan Salvi for the Speaker's post, against BJP's Rahul Narevekar.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-camp's MLAs, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and others held a meeting last night after the legislator's return to Mumbai.

On July 3, the first day of the Maharashtra Assembly session, a new speaker will be elected to take care of the proceedings and the floor test will be held on the next day, July 4.

As the Shinde group made their way back to Mumbai, they were welcomed by BJP Maharashtra President Chandrakant Patil, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Pravin Darekar at the Colaba-based Taj Presidential Hotel. 

Before arriving in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde interacted with social activist Anna Hazare from a hotel in Goa via video call. 

Days after being appointed the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde went to Goa to bring back the MLAs who stood by him in his rebellion against former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Along with the MLAs, he was seen coming back to Mumbai on a bus on Saturday. 

Speaking on Shiv Sena, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said, "By party, we mean two things...One is the legislature party and another is party organisation right from the bottom to top. Now it is very difficult to say whether the legislative party will get the majority or not?"

Days after Uddhav Thackeray tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, his ally from Congress, Bhai (Ashok) Jagtap paid him a visit. Speaking to the media, Jagtap said that he was visiting Thackeray as a 'family member'. 

Addressing a press briefing, Eknath Shinde camp spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar hit out at Uddhav Thackeray for sacking the Maharashtra CM from the Shiv Sena leader's post. Lamenting that Thackeray chose NCP and Congress over Sena MLAs, he stressed that party founder Balasaheb Thackeray was always anti-NCP. 

Speaking to the media about the MVA's candidate for the Speaker's election, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat remarked, "We have decided Rajan Salvi as our candidate from MVA. All three parties sat together and decided this. His nomination has been filed. We decided that we should give this opportunity to Shiv Sena". 

MVA has fielded Shiv Sena MLA Rajan Salvi against BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar for the Maharashtra Assembly's Speaker post. Elections for the same are to be held tomorrow, July 3 during the special Assembly session. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke exclusively to Republic Media Network wherein he expressed his gratitude to BJP for giving him the top post for the sake of the state's development. Eknath Shinde remarked that the BJP had sent a 'positive message' to the people of the country by choosing him, an ordinary Shiv Sainik, for the post despite having a larger number of elected MLAs. 

In a key development, sources told Republic TV that Congress MLA Sangram Thopate will file his nomination for the Speaker's post as the MVA candidate. On the other hand, Shiv Sena wants to field Rajan Salvi as the candidate of the MVA.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut stated, "I also got an offer for Guwahati but I follow Balasaheb Thackeray and so I didn't go there. When the truth is on your side, why fear"? Reiterating the stance that Eknath Shinde is not a Shiv Sena CM, he denied speculation that many party MPs will join the rebel camp. 

Weighing in on the change of guard in Maharashtra, former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "For the last 2.5 yrs, Maharashtra's development was hindered by MVA- an unholy alliance. Being a Maratha, Eknath Shinde Ji took the right decision, in favour of an ideology. I'm sure that 'Fadnavis-Shinde jodi' will bring back development in Maharashtra."

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari came under fire from the Congress party for allowing the Assembly Speaker's election to take place on July 3. Speaking to the media on Friday, Congress' Legislative Party leader Balasaheb Thorat questioned Koshyari on why he permitted this election now considering the fact that he had denied permission for the same when MVA was in power. Moreover, he contended that the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government and Eknath Shinde taking oath as the CM would go down as a dark chapter in Maharashtra's history. 

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will hold a meeting of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at 11 am today. At noon, rebel camp spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar shall address a press conference. Thereafter, the rebel legislators might leave for Mumbai. 

Shiv Sena parliamentarians are still undecided on joining the breakaway faction led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde amid claims by BJP leaders that at least a dozen Lok Sabha members were in touch with them. A central BJP minister claimed that the split in the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra will also have an impact on the Lok Sabha as at least a dozen Lok Sabha members of the outfit, out of the total 19, were ready to switch sides.

Shinde's son Shrikant, a two-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan, has already joined ranks with his father, while five-term parliamentarian from Yavatmal Bhawana Gawli had written a letter to the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray urging him to consider the grievances of the rebels with regard to Hindutva. Rajan Vichare, the Lok Sabha member from Thane, was mentored by the late Anand Dighe like Shinde. 

"There has been no impact of the rebellion on the Shiv Sena parliamentary party, Vinayak Raut, leader of the Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha told PTI. Lok Sabha member from Osmanabad Omraje Nimbalkar too said he was firmly with Thackeray and would cast his vote in the July 18 presidential elections as per the directions of the Shiv Sena chief. The Rajya Sabha members are Anil Desai, Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi, all considered close to the Thackerays. 

In an exclusive interview with Republic TV on Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde denied that the rebellion in Shiv Sena was planned well in advance. According to Shinde, a majority of the Sena legislators and Independents had to take this step as their existence was in jeopardy. To buttress his point, he claimed that MVA allies NCP and Congress ensured that paltry funds were allocated for development works in the constituencies of the Sena legislators. Without naming his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde insisted that the rebels had tried their best to address such problems internally but ultimately failed. 

The Maharashtra CM elaborated, "This is not about today. A legislator tries to ensure that development works happen in the constituency and the people who want development get justice. But if he is unsuccessful in that, his existence is in danger. The reason why these 50 MLAs take such a step should be ascertained. Introspection is required."

The deadline to submit an application for the election of Speaker is Saturday, July 2 at 12 noon. However, MVA has not fielded any candidates yet. The two-day special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4, 2022. The Assembly Speaker will be elected in this session. The election of the Speaker of the Assembly will take place in the House on Sunday, July 3rd. 

For the second day in a row, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde went to Goa where the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs are staying at present. He will return to Mumbai with all of them today. 

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with BJP Maharashtra MPs, MLAs and MLCs in Mumbai along with State President Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Pravin Darekar, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar, Rahul Narvekar and other leaders.

"You have been indulging in anti-party activities and have also voluntarily given up your membership of Shiv Sena. Therefore, in exercise of the powers vested in me as the Shiv Sena Paksha Pramukha, I remove you from the post of Shiv Sena leader in the party organisation," Uddhav Thackeray said in a letter addressed to Eknath Shinde.

"We are Shiv Sainiks of Balasaheb Thackeray and we are MLAs of Shiv Sena. Future will reveal all. Our intention is not to deliver a blow to Shiv Sena or Uddhav Thackeray. But we haven't left Shiv Sena," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

We have a strong government with more than 170 MLAs which will work for the development of Maharashtra," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

"The MLAs tried very hard to raise our issues. But we weren't heard. That's why we had to take this step," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanks Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for giving him the top post.

"I thank senior leaders of the party. Their gesture has disproved the claim that BJP does anything, breaks parties, for power," he said.

After 10 hours of Enforcement Directorate's questioning, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has left the agency's office. He was questioned for around 10 hours.

Renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad, which was one of the last decisions taken by the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, has reinvigorated Maharashtra pride, says Shiv Sena.

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan said that democracy has gone for a toss and the people are "deaf, dumb, and blind". He made this comment after rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde was made Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Azam Khan said, "What happened in Rampur, happened in Maharashtra. I don't see such politics as I am blind, can't comment on it as I am dumb, can't hear it as I am deaf. What to speak in a democracy like this, when the common people are forced to be deaf, dumb and blind. All we can do is feel sad about it."

"Uddhav Thackeray is a big stature leader and we won’t speak against him. We will speak to him at the right time. All the misunderstandings will be sorted out," rebel Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reached Trident Hotel in Mumbai where a crucial meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders is taking place.

The Maharashtra Congress on Friday said the Eknath Shinde government's decision on building a metro carshed in Mumbai's Aarey forest was its first blow on the city as the move played with the health of people here.

Considering the environmental damage (of tree cutting and construction in a green lung), it was decided the carshed of Metro Line 3 will be built in Kanjurmarg instead of Aarey, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole told reporters here.

"The newly formed government is playing with the health of Mumbaikars by insisting that the carshed be made in Aarey. Environmentalists and Mumbaikars are strongly opposed to this and thousands of people had staged massive protests against the then Fadnavis government," he said.

There was nothing unexpected about Devendra Fadnavis becoming Deputy Chief Minister in the new government in Maharashtra, state BJP president Chandrakant Patil said on Friday.

In a dramatic sequence of events a day before, Fadnavis, a former chief minister, announced that rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde would be the next CM while he would stay out of the government. But later, he took oath as Shinde's deputy. 

"I am aware that many people were shocked by the events yesterday. But there was nothing unexpected in what happened with Devendra Fadnavis," Patil told reporters here.

"BJP decided to support Shinde for CM's post for taking the Hindutva ideology ahead. But Shinde himself asked Fadnavis to join his cabinet. So Fadnavis asked our leaders in Delhi for permission," he said.

"You need a truly large heart to work under a person who  was your junior earlier," Patil said,  praising Fadnavis. Shinde was a minister when Fadnavis headed the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government in the state from 2014 to 2019. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a crucial meeting on Friday. For this, saffron party workers have arrived at Trident Hotel I Mumbai. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is currently in Mantralaya, will also attend the meeting.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has arrived at Mantralaya. He will chair a meeting of the State disaster management department.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting regarding the OBC reservation in Mantralaya. Maharashtra Chief Secretary Manukumar Srivastava, BJP leader Pravin Darekar and Dr Sanjay Kute were present.

Maharashtra Chief minister Eknath Shinde's government will face a floor test on July 4, Monday, an official told news agency PTI.

The BJP has 106 MLAs and the Shinde camp has 50 legislators, including 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, which is clearly above the majority mark of 144. Besides this, BJP has also claimed the support of several independent MLAs.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis visited his office in Mantralaya on Friday and was instructed to remove the COVID glass barrier put by the previous government.

The Maharashtra Congress on Friday questioned why Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari allowed Eknath Shinde to take the names of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Thane Sena strongman late Anand Dighe when he was sworn in as chief minister on Thursday.

State Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe tweeted that, in 2019, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was being sworn in, the governor had asked some ministers to repeat the oath of office and secrecy for taking the names of various leaders.

Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire said that a crucial meeting has been called by Uddhav Thackeray at Sena Bhavan at 12 noon on Saturday.

"Eknath Shinde can't take the CM post like this, we will teach him a lesson. Till now who have left Sena have suffered," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Rahul Narvekar for the post of Maharashtra Assembly speaker.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackery on Friday met party workers at Sena Bhavan in Mumbai. This is his first interaction with party workers after resigning as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after meeting rebel MLAs has left the Goa hotel. He will be heading to Mumbai where he will hold key meetings.

As per sources, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray and asked his MLA to be a part of the Cabinet. Sources revealed that he has offered at least one Cabinet berth to MNS. 

Addressing a press briefing, rebel camp spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar asserted that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had resolved to make Maharashtra free of farmer suicides. He also mentioned that Shinde is going back to Mumbai to chair a meeting of disaster management because of flooding in Mumbai. 

Uddhav Thackeray addressed the media for the first time after stepping down as the Maharashtra CM.

Republic TV accessed the first visuals of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde meeting the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. He and the other MLAs paid tribute to late former CM Vasantrao Naik on his birth anniversary.

The newly appointed Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar called on Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis earlier this morning. 

Mumbai BJP chief Mangal Prabhat Lodha called upon everyone to participate in the victory celebrations at 2 pm at the Maharashtra Pradesh Karyalaya at Nariman Point today. 

Eknath Shinde camp spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar will address a press conference at 1 pm. Currently, the Maharashtra CM is having one-on-one meetings with the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut arrived at the ED office where he will be questioned in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case. Maintaining that he will cooperate with the central agency, Raut asserted that he hasn't done anything wrong. 

In another setback for Uddhav Thackeray, the Supreme Court refused to grant an urgent hearing on Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu's fresh application. A day after Eknath Shinde took oath as the CM of Maharashtra, Prabhu moved the SC seeking the suspension of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs until the final adjudication of the disqualification proceedings against them. Appearing for him, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that Shinde violated the 10th schedule of the Constitution the moment he was sworn in as the CM.

In response, Justice Surya Kant said, "We are not shutting our eyes. We will take it up on July 11. List the Interlocutory Application along with other pleas and circulate it among parties". 

The Income Tax department has sent a notice to NCP chief Sharad Pawar in connection with poll affidavits filed in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2020. This comes amid the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government in Maharashtra. 

The special Assembly session which was supposed to commence on July 2 was pushed forward to July 3. Now, the Assembly Speaker will be elected on Sunday, July 3, whereas the vote of confidence shall take place on July 4.

In a big development, Shiv Sena Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu moved the Supreme Court seeking an interim order suspending the rebel MLAs against whom disqualification petitions are filed till the final adjudication of the disqualification proceedings. In the alternative, it urged the court to restrain the aforesaid MLAs from entering the Maharashtra Assembly or participating in any proceeding related to the House. 

Maharashtra BJP MLAs will meet today evening to discuss the Assembly Speaker's election scheduled for tomorrow. The name of the candidate is likely to be finalised in the meeting, sources revealed. 

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will chair a meeting of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at 11 am. They are still staying at the Taj Convention Centre, Goa. The other rebel legislators are likely to return to Mumbai on Saturday. 

Speaking to the media hours before his ED appearance, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, "I congratulate this government. I welcome them. When the Uddhav Thackeray government came, they were saying from the first day that they will disturb him. But we won't do that. We won't disturb this government, they must work for the public."

In a big snub to Uddhav Thackeray, the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra decided to shift the Mumbai Metro 3 car shed back to Aarey. On October 11, 2020, Thackeray announced that the car shed will be shifted from Aarey to Kanjurmarg and no cost will be incurred for the purpose. This became one of the key points of contention between BJP and Shiv Sena in the last few years. However, the Bombay High Court stayed the transfer of the 102-acre land in Kanjurmarg to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the construction of the car shed on December 16, 2020.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant congratulated Eknath Shinde on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Taking to Twitter, he said, "I wish him all the success in the service of the people". 

Devendra Fadnavis became the fifth Maharashtra politician who accepted a junior position in a government after having served as Chief Minister. He served as the CM for full five years from 2014 to 2019. After the 2019 Assembly elections, as the Sena fell out with the BJP, Fadnavis became chief minister again with the support of a group of NCP MLAs led by Ajit Pawar but had to resign within three days as they could not muster the numbers. 

Here are the previous instances:

1. Shankarrao Chavan- The Congress leader became the CM in 1975 and served for two years, before being replaced by Vasantdada Patil. In 1978,  Sharad Pawar, a minister in the Patil cabinet, brought down the government and became CM. Chavan became finance minister in the Progressive Democratic Front government led by Pawar.

2. Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar- He was the CM of Maharashtra from June 1985 to March 1986. Years later, he became revenue minister in the Sushilkumar Shinde government in 2004. 

3. Narayan Rane- As a Shiv Sena MLA, he became Maharashtra CM in 1999 and served for less than a year. Later, after he had left the Sena to join the Congress, he became revenue minister in the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led government. 

4. Ashok Chavan- He served as the Maharashtra CM between 2008 and 2010. In 2019, he became the Minister for Public Works (Excluding Public Undertakings) in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government. 

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde reached Goa late at night. He met all the rebel MLAs and Goa CM Pramod Sawant who welcomed him. 

Making a key announcement on Twitter, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut remarked, "I will be appearing before the ED today at 12 noon. I respect the summons issued to me and it's my duty to co-operate with the investigation agencies. I appeal Shiv Sena workers not to gather at the ED office. Don't worry!"

Congratulating Eknath Shinde on assuming office in a telephonic conversation, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar reminded him that now he belonged to 'not just one party, but the whole of Maharashtra'. Speaking to the media on the fall of MVA, Pawar said,  "There is no scope of talk or reconciliation when 38-39 people of one party (Shiv Sena)  in an alliance, leave the state. Shinde performed the job of taking them outside the state, and demonstrated his true capacity and power". 

Pawar said that Devendra Fadnavis was 'clearly not happy' after being made the Deputy of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "You could make out from his face. I think since he comes from Nagpur and has been part of the RSS, he accepted the decision due to his teaching and learning of the Sangh," the NCP chief opined. 

In a massive political twist after Uddhav Thackeray resigned as the Chief Minister, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde took oath as the CM of Maharashtra. Shinde, who handled the Urban Development and Public Works (including Public Undertakings) portfolios in the MVA government was instrumental in its downfall as 38 other Sena MLAs joined him outside the state in protest against the continuation of the alliance with NCP and Congress. After reaching Mumbai in the afternoon from Goa, he went straight to the residence of Devendra Fadnavis who was tipped to be the CM and they left for the Raj Bhavan together.

After formally staking a claim to form the new government, Devendra Fadnavis told the media in a briefing that BJP has decided to back Shinde as the CM. Moreover, he clarified that he will stay out of the government. Making a U-turn later, he agreed to become the Deputy CM on the direction of the BJP leadership. Amid buzz that this is a demotion for him, he stressed, "As an authentic worker, I follow the orders of the party. The order of the party that brought me to the highest position is paramount to me". Shinde and Fadnavis were administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor at the Raj Bhavan in the evening.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led government plunged into a crisis on June 21 after senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other party MLAs went incommunicado and went to the Le Meridian hotel in Surat. While the rebels urged Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to sever ties with NCP and Congress and return to the NDA fold, the latter refused to accept this demand. As the rebels shifted to a Guwahati hotel, Shiv Sena filed a petition seeking the disqualification of 16 party MLAs. Subsequently, they challenged the disqualification proceedings and Eknath Shinde's replacement as the Legislative Party leader in the SC.

On Monday, an SC bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala extended the time granted by Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal to the rebels to submit their response to the disqualification petition until July 12. Moreover, the state government assured that no harm will be caused to the lives, liberty and properties of the 39 MLAs and their families. Subsequently, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari ordered a floor test on June 30 after receiving representations from Devendra Fadnavis and 7 Independent MLAs.

Minutes after the apex court refused to stay the floor test scheduled on June 30, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray resigned as the Maharashtra CM in a televised address on Wednesday night. While expressing gratitude towards Congress and NCP for supporting him, he lamented that his own party MLAs had deserted him. On this occasion, he also resigned as a member of the state Legislative Council. 

Eknath Shinde, who became the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, once drove an autorickshaw to earn a living before rising as a formidable Shiv Sena leader. The 58-year-old leader who hails from western Maharashtra's Satara district shifted to Thane, a Sena bastion adjacent to Mumbai, in his young days and started his political career in the same city. The four-time MLA, who held the urban development and PWD portfolios in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray, never hid his humble origins. 

On the contrary, he made it a point to mention it to underscore how he has been indebted to the Shiv Sena and its founder, late Bal Thackeray for his rise in Maharashtra politics. Born on February 9, 1964, Eknath Shinde dropped out of college before completing graduation. After moving to Thane, he soon found his calling as one among thousands of Shiv Sena cadres who were ever-ready to hit the streets at the command of Bal Thackeray. As Shinde joined the Sena in Thane, he found a mentor in local party stalwart Anand Dighe.

He became Dighe's deputy and strengthened the party in the Thane-Palghar region after Dighe's sudden death in 2001. The sitting MLA from Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Thane city, Shinde was once a quintessential Shiv Sena street-fighter. He faces dozens of criminal cases for charges such as `voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons' and rioting, registered during various party agitations. He became a corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997 and won his maiden Assembly election in 2004. In 2005 he was made the Sena's Thane district chief.

Currently, he is in his fourth term as an MLA, while his son Dr. Shrikant Shinde is the Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan in the district. Shinde was appointed the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for a brief period in 2014 when the Sena initially refused to join the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet. The party later joined the BJP-led government, and Shinde became a cabinet minister. When the Shiv Sena formed the MVA government with NCP and Congress, Shinde became a cabinet minister for the second time.

Immediately after taking oath as the Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde visited the Mantralaya and chaired his first Cabinet meeting. In the presence of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, he reviewed the Kharif season, rainwater and crop insurance in the state.